Many Leeds United fans have flocked to a tweet that was recently posted by The Athletic’s Leeds reporter Phil Hay that includes a link to an article in which he discusses Leeds’ pursuit of Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back Ben White.
The Whites have been linked with a move for the defender, who spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Elland Road, throughout the current transfer window ahead of Leeds United’s return to the Premier League next season.
However, in his latest article for The Athletic, Hay explains that ‘Leeds are considering whether to move on and take their money elsewhere’ after Brighton have refused ‘to engage’ with them after the Yorkshire-based club offered as much as ‘an up-front figure’ of £22m, with additional incentives, for the centre-back.
Hay mentions Robin Koch, who plays for Bundesliga club SC Freiburg, as a potential alternative to White for Leeds in this report.
In his tweet, the journalist shared some of the contents of this article in bullet-point form and also posed the question to Leeds fans: ‘Do the club hold out for this one? Or will Brighton’s resistance force them to move on?’
This tweet caught the attention of plenty of Leeds fans who replied to Hay and shared their thoughts on this latest update concerning White.
A Leeds United column, on Ben White.
Do the club hold out for this one? Or will Brighton’s resistance force them to move on?
– highest offer still £22m
– Leeds the only club to bid so far
– Brighton back training today
– keen interest in Koch at Freiburghttps://t.co/L9Fay3L6Is— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) August 18, 2020
This article states that after failing ‘to engage’ with Brighton after offering £22m ‘up-front’, Leeds ‘are willing to push their valuation closer to £30m,’ however, plenty of Leeds supporters replied to this post to share that they believe White is becoming too expensive and called for their club to move on from the 22-year-old Brighton man.
I don’t get all the on going tweets and worries about White. He had a fab season in the championship but so did all the leeds players. We have in my opinion a better player in Struijk already at Leeds. 22m is enough for Whitez move on get CB cover signed and spend on a striker
— Nige ???? MOT (@hectorswhites) August 18, 2020
As good as Ben White is we have to move on as Brighton are trying to rip us off. At the end of the day there are plenty of other good players out there who are proven at Premier level.
— Paul Ward (@PaulPm242) August 18, 2020
It’s ridiculous, potter will ruin that lads future. He was massive for us last season but £40M or £50M is just too much without premier league experience. Such a shame for him and us.
— james nuttall (@jimmyvercetti) August 18, 2020
Time to forget Ben White. Don’t chase it. Take the money elsewhere & use it more wisely. #lufc
— Lowfields Road (@road_lowfields) August 18, 2020
Move on! This is madness if the reported 30m is true, hopefully just media whipping up transfer talk.
— Ryan Dodson (@wilkosbarmyarmy) August 18, 2020
Some Leeds supporters shared that they believe White needs to submit a transfer request.
Ben nerds to put in a transfer request. Simple
M.O.T— William charles williams (@William46358063) August 18, 2020
White needs to submit a transfer request today.
— Lee Thompson (@lufcThommo) August 18, 2020
In this report, Hay also shares that Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa ‘wants only one centre-back, irrespective of the loss of Gaetano Berardi for most if not all of the season following an ACL injury’ and one Leeds fan replied to this post to share that they think it’s ‘crazy’ that they are said to ‘only want one’ centre-back.
We genuinely need 2. Crazy we only want one. If we sign White and he gets injured are we really planning on trusting Casey / Strujik all season
— M W (@mewebb1) August 18, 2020
Is £30m a fair valuation of Ben White?
YES, HE'S WORTH THAT
NO, THAT'S A RIP OFF
As per WhoScored, White was one of Leeds’ most impressive performers during their Championship-winning 2019/20 campaign, as he earned the fifth-highest overall rating (7.09) of any Whites player in the league last season.
However, considering that this article claims that Leeds may ‘push their valuation closer to £30m,’ which, if successful, would make White their new club-record signing despite the fact that he is yet to play a single minute of Premier League football, it may be understandable why some Whites fans believe that it’s time to move on and look at other targets.