Leeds United defender Ben White has impressed massively since joining the club loan from Brighton in the summer, with the Premier League club having the option to recall him in January.
White has been an absolute revelation for Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds side this season, playing every single minute of the Championship season so far, helping Leeds to have the current best defensive record in the league, only conceding eight goals after 14 games.
White has shown he is more than capable of playing in the Premier League following his consistent performances for promotion-chasing Leeds, demonstrating a range of skills from his aerial presence and strong tackles, to his confidence on the ball and range of passing.
It should come as no surprise to see that other clubs are interested in the permanent signing of White, with Liverpool reportedly keen on signing him, as per the Sun.
With White’s performances turning heads in the top tier, we take a look at one winner and one loser if his loan at Leeds is cut short in January…
Winner: Brighton and Graham Potter
Brighton will definitely be the winners in this scenario as they will get chance to see what White can offer in their Premier League side as they look to consolidate their top-flight status.
Brighton have recently spent £20Million to secure the services of then Bristol City defender Adam Webster so they are not shy in dipping into the Championship for talent and trust the abilities of a top performer in that league, which would bode well for White’s prospects with the Seagulls if they looked to integrate him into their first team.
White would face stiff competition for a starting spot under Graham Potter, with Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster, Leon Balogun, Shane Duffy, and Dan Burn all currently competing for a place. The on-loan Leeds defender certainly has the quality to do so and has time on his side.
Loser: Leeds and Marcelo Bielsa
It’s obvious that Leeds would be the loser in this situation as losing White could be catastrophic for Leeds’ bid to finally achieve promotion.
It is no secret that Leeds are very light in the centre-back position with only Liam Cooper and White as recognised first-team players who are natural to the position.
Bielsa has utilised the versatility of his squad players to fill gaps in the squad, with players such as Gaetano Berardi, Kalvin Phillips and Luke Ayling all filling in at centre-back under Bielsa when suspensions and injuries have piled up.
Leeds would have to move very fast to ensure they replaced White adequately and it would be very difficult to acquire a defender of the same quality in January without having to stump up a huge fee.