According to a recent report by Daily Mail, Brighton and Hove Albion manager Graham Potter has talked of the possibility of the Seagulls selling last season’s Leeds United loanee Ben White in the upcoming summer window. A further report by the Birmingham Mail suggests that the player has been on the radars of Premier League giants Liverpool and Wolves over the last few months and that Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United are also adamant of bringing him to Elland Road permanently.
Although it has been clarified that Liverpool are interested in Brighton’s Ben White, Graham Potter’s recent comments could come as a stumbling block. The gaffer said, “He’s our player, he’s got a long contract with us. I have known Ben for a while, I have been aware of him, wanted to try and sign him when we were at Swansea. I know about his qualities. He’s a fantastic player. He’s done brilliantly at Leeds and helped them get promotion – that’s fantastic for them, fantastic for him – but he’s our player and we’re looking forward to working with him.”
What Is Liverpool’s Current Centre-Half Situation?
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side were, far and away, the most dominant team in the league this season, and although that does sound impressive on paper, it must be conceded that they rode their luck for periods during the campaign.
One of the biggest concerns for the manager would’ve definitely been the lack of depth they boast in every position. Arguably possessing what is the weakest bench among the entire top six, a couple more untimely knocks in the early parts of the season could’ve resulted in their campaign playing out in an entirely different fashion.
Of all the areas that need to be addressed, centre-half is sure to be right up there. Virgil Van Dijk has singlehandedly carried this Liverpool back-line into another level, but finding a regular partner for him has been an issue. Joel Matip and Joe Gomez have both been used in periods, and although the pair of them do have good games, the inconsistency they tend to display has gradually begun to become an issue. Finding a composed and dependable partner for the Dutch superstar should be the first thing on Klopp’s mind going into what could be an interesting summer transfer window this year.
What Makes Ben White A Good Option For Liverpool?
Despite being just 22-years-old, White featured from the start in every single league game for the Elland Road club this season. Over his 46 appearances for the recently promoted side, the centre-half notched up a couple of assists and a goal, while boasting a strong disciplinary record of just six bookings as well. Standing at 1.85m tall, the Englishman offers all the right physical attributes required to perform at the highest level. Brighton are likely to find themselves battling to stay in the Premier League again next season. Still, a switch to Liverpool would see the defender competing in the Champions League and fighting for titles instead.
Liverpool Are Interested In Brighton’s Ben White: Why Klopp Must Convince Him To Join The Reds:
The Reds finished the season off this time around with a few games still to spare, but expecting a similarly easy path next season could spell danger for Klopp’s men. The likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are all likely to compete with the Anfield club for the title next season, and having a highly-rated defender like White in their ranks could add immediate strength as well as long-term depth. The Brighton manager has expressed his desire to keep him at the AMEX Stadium next season, but if Liverpool go calling in the summer, the opportunity could be far too big for the centre-half to pass up on.
