A lot of Leeds United fans have replied to a tweet from Graham Smyth, which includes an article about Ben White.
The piece includes a link to Brighton & Hove Albion’s official site, which has quotes from the Seagulls’ technical director Dan Ashworth.
Ashworth hails the ‘fantastic job’ Leeds have done with White while he has been on loan at the club, and that the club have ‘done great in helping him develop.’
However, Ashworth insisted that White ‘is part of our plans’ and that they will be looking to keep him at the club for a ‘number of years.’
This post has attracted the attention of many Leeds fans.
Do you think White will be with Brighton next season?
No, either with us or a top six Premier League side
Yes, they will keep him
Brighton love a Ben White update.
This one credits Leeds United for helping his development, but reads a lot more like a classic hands off warning. https://t.co/knRxye5nfh#lufc
— Graham Smyth (@GrahamSmyth) May 9, 2020
Ben White’s destined for the top 4 not a nothing club like Brighton
— Armo??? (@Jordan_Armo) May 9, 2020
They could go down yet and if we go up he’s definitely going to choose Leeds over Brighton, should do anyway
— El loco (@El_loco1919) May 9, 2020
Let’s see. If we go up he may not want to go back. And if not us. A top four club.
Sounds like Brighton pushing up the price.— Chris ??? (@Chris_CD2010) May 9, 2020
I’ll be truly gutted if he leaves. ?
— Rev twerp fuppet™ (@mojoluafc) May 9, 2020
It’s almost as if they’re trying to drive a bigger bid out of someone
— Lee.ds (@anyoldsport) May 9, 2020
Look forward to their impending relegation in that case.
— Rob Collins (@robcollins2016) May 9, 2020
White will never play for Brighton ,it’s Brighton way of bigging him up to raise his transfer fee
— mark ant jepson (@mrleedsunited) May 9, 2020
He will never play for Brighton that’s for sure
— bielsa’s lucky blue bucket ???? (@delwright21) May 9, 2020
What do we think?
Smyth appears to think that this is a hands-off warning from Ashworth to Leeds regarding White, and while he does praise the Whites for their work, it seems very clear that Brighton want to keep the 22-year-old at the club next season.
However, with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City (according to Phil Hay) sniffing around, that might be quite difficult.