LEEDS UNITED have made a third bid of £25million for Brighton centre-back Ben White, according to reports.
The 22-year-old enjoyed a stunning loan spell at Elland Road last season, featuring in all 46 games as the Whites were promoted back to the Premier League.
Ben White featured in all 46 games as Leeds got promotedCredit: Rex Features
And boss Marcelo Bielsa is desperate to land him on a permanent basis as he prepares to take on the top flight.
White is Leeds’ No1 target this summer, with the Whites having already lodged bids of around £18.5m and £22m for his services.
With Brighton having turned them down, however, Sky Sports claim that a third of around £25m plus add-ons has now been submitted.
But The Argus say that this improved bid will also be rejected by the Seagulls, with boss Graham Potter wanting to take a look at the homegrown star.
White has made two first-team appearances for Brighton, starting a pair of Carabao Cup ties all the way back in 2016 under Chris Hughton.
He was also an unused substitute in the Premier League match with Burnley in December 2018, however has yet to make his top-flight debut.
White is contracted to Brighton until 2022, although they have an option to trigger a further year.
On the potential deal, expert Tim Thornton told The Transfer Talk podcast: “They’re going to try [and sign him], they’ve already tried very hard.
“He’s the one they want, he was outstanding last season and he shone in a Leeds team that did incredibly well.
“But there are other teams interested as well – Liverpool have been linked with him and he’s a Rolls Royce of a footballer.
“The talk at Leeds is if they get him and he plays every week in the Premier League next season, then he will be in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the Euros – that’s how highly rated he is.
“Southgate has already picked him out as one to watch along with Kalvin Phillips, so he’s an outstanding player.
“He could probably slot into any squad in the Premier League, but at Leeds he’ll be guaranteed to play every week. Bielsa knows how to get the best out of him and he fixed the system at Leeds.
“An interesting point regarding White – I’ll rewind 12 months when Pontus Jansson left Leeds and I’d been told that White is the player Leeds want to replace him. There was a lot of talk of ‘who is Ben White?’, no one had heard of him at the time.
Graham Potter is understood to want to take a closer look at WhiteCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“But Bielsa was adamant that he was the player he wanted and that is one hell of a judgement call to get him in. He has been absolutely phenomenal.
“So they’ve had a couple of bids and we’re expecting another bid to come in. The player loved his times at Leeds, but I think he’s opened minded because he knows that potentially, there may be other offers.
“From a Brighton perspective, if bids are coming in, it’s a win-win situation for them as well, so it’s one to watch, but he’s definitely top of the list as far as Leeds are concerned and he’s the one player really that they would like to see slotting into the jigsaw this summer.”
£25million-rated Leeds loanee defender Ben White talks tactics
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
