OPINION
Brighton centre-back Ben White has been a revelation since arriving from Brighton on loan this summer.
The 21-year-old has played every game for Leeds this season, including the two EFL Cup games, and has hardly put a foot wrong.
According to stats site WyScout he’s hit a pass success rate of 91.3% this season, has completed all four dribbles that he’s attempted and won 71% of his defensive duels. Not bad for someone who had only had experience in League One and Two before he signed for Leeds.
However, it’s led to some fans getting worried that Brighton might recall him in January.
Athletic journalist Phil Hay delivered his opinion in a recent Q&A with fans after one asked, “Can Ben White be recalled by Brighton in January?”
Hay responded saying, “Most loans include a recall clause in January but it usually only applies if a player isn’t playing as much as they need to. White looks like playing 46 games at this rate if fitness and suspensions don’t intervene. Plus Brighton are well covered at centre-back.”
Later in the Q&A he said that White would probably cost £15m+ if Leeds wanted to buy him in the summer, but said, “If Leeds get promoted, it’s a negotiation they could try and get involved in. They’d have the money to make a serious offer. But he’s Brighton’s if they want to keep him.”
Hay re-iterated that Leeds have “no option to buy” so would be dependent on Brighton being willing to sell.
Brighton covered at centre-back?
White has shown that he’s the perfect embodiment of a modern centre-back for Leeds – calm and composed on the ball, with a superb range of passing at his disposal.
Shane Duffy, Lewis Dunk, Dan Burn and summer signing Adam Webster have been playing at centre-back for Brighton this season.
Dunk and Webster have been the standouts, with pass success rates of 90.7% and 93.7% respectively this season. Duffy is just behind them with an 87.7% pass success rate, followed by Burn on 82.5%.
Graham Potter has been playing three at the back so far but, like Hay said, has plenty of options. The only thing that could be a danger for Leeds is a serious injury to Dunk or Webster.
There’s always that inherent danger with a loan move but Brighton certainly won’t have any issues with White’s development under Bielsa at Leeds.
If Hay is right, and any recall clause is based on appearances, Marcelo Bielsa should have White for the rest of the season and Leeds fans should be absolutely delighted with that. Anything beyond that would be a bonus.