TalkSPORT insider Alex Crook has seemingly ruled out the possibility that Ben White will return to Leeds United at any point in the future.
The defender was certainly something of a revelation when he made his loan move to Elland Road in the summer of 2019, playing almost every minute of every game as Leeds United sealed promotion, earning the club’s Young Player of the Year award and being named in the PFA Team of the Year for the Championship as well.
Leeds United tried their hardest to make the deal permanent once they sealed promotion, but to no avail, and now after a season in the Premier League there are plenty of other suitors, with top clubs both in Britain and abroad showing an interest.
And speaking on the TalkSPORT Gameday podcast (36:44), Crook, in a discussion with former Leeds United player Danny Mills about White’s ability and his future, put to bed any chance that Marcelo Bielsa’s men might have had in being able to bring him back at some point:
“Listen, Gareth Southgate, I’m sure will have been paying close attention to him, and he’ll be one that he’s earmarked for the future. And I know for a fact Danny, and this probably hurts you as a Leeds man. The biggest clubs in the land are scouting Ben White. If he does leave Brighton, it won’t be for Leeds, it will be for Liverpool or Manchester United or a club of that ilk.”
TIF Thoughts on Alex Crook’s comments…
Should Leeds try and sign Ben White again this summer?
Yes
No
This certainly does come across as ‘one that got away’ for Leeds United.
And whilst you have to give them credit for how hard they pursued White in the summer, it does make you think what could have happened if they had just been a little bit more ambitious and kept pushing Brighton to try and get a deal, maybe by throwing in a player as part of the deal.
Leeds have had a great first campaign back in the Premier League, but think how much better it could have been if they’d have been able to keep hold of such a highly-rated defender. Perhaps they might have had a chance of finishing in a European place, or setting themselves up for some progress next season.
In other news: ‘He’d be unreal’, ‘Raph needs to have a word’ – Many Leeds fans excited as transfer news emerges