Leeds secure Ben White agreement as Bielsa and co cover all bases

Leeds United’s promotion hopes have been given a shot in the arm after it was reported that they had reached an agreement with Brighton to extend the loan spell of defender Ben White.

White, 22, has been a revelation at Elland Road this season after signing on a season’s loan from Brighton.

Having played every minute of Leeds’ promotion-chasing campaign, his partnership alongside Liam Cooper formed the bedrock of a defence that conceded the fewest goals in the league (30) at the time of football’s hiatus.

His performances attracted the attentions of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, with one outlet suggesting he’d be a perfect Dejan Lovren replacement despite Reds scouts identifying one major flaw in the defender’s game.

Leeds are understandably keen to turn White’s temporary spell in Yorkshire permanent, and one young Whites fan in particular attempted to aid his club by writing a letter to Brighton offering his entire £15.07 fortune to seal the deal.

However, Leeds and Liverpool are not alone in their pursuit of White and the defender – one day tipped for England honours – has also been linked with Manchester City and Manchester United, who are both in need of defensive reinforcements this season.

But while their hopes of securing White to a permanent deal at Elland Road, Marcelo Bielsa’s side should at least be able to count on the defender’s services until the end of the current season, with the Daily Telegraph claiming an agreement had been agreed with Brighton to allow the defender to remain on loan at Elland Road for an additional two months.

White’s loan stint in West Yorkshire officially came to an end on Sunday, but John Percy now claims that Brighton have agreed to extend his spell with Bielsa’s side until July 31 – in a deal that would allow him to feature in the play-off final were Leeds to drop out of the Championship’s automatic promotion places.

Table-topping Leeds currently boast a seven-point advantage over third-placed Fulham with nine matches to play, with details emerging on Sunday evening on when the Championship season is due to resume.

In other Leeds United news, Bielsa’s side have been linked with a £12million-rated Argentina striker and a PSG defensive prospect as the Whites plan for the future. Read more here.