This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
Newcastle are showing an interest in Leeds ace Ben White, according to The Chronicle.
What’s the word?
It is being reported that the Magpies are keeping tabs on the defender following a string of impressive performances for Leeds, which has led to some of their supporters to suggest he could play for England one day.
The 22-year-old was a bit of an unknown when he joined on loan from Brighton in the summer but interest from Liverpool and Manchester United suggests he is a young player with a lot of pedigree.
His valuation is believed to be priced at £20m by his parent club, with his contract not expiring until summer 2022.
It would, therefore, take a considerable bid from Newcastle to lure him away from his parent club, but since he is a player with the potential to play Champions League football, and according to pundit Noel Whelan is already “as good as John Stones, if not better”, then it would be a deal worth doing.
What would he add?
Newcastle have a plethora of options at centre-back and many have impressed so far, with the popular Florian Lejeune still to enter the fray after missing the season’s opening through injury demonstrating the strength in depth.
However, due to their age, few have the potential to develop into a top-class defender like White, who has taken the Championship by storm.
For such a young player he has shown brilliant composure in the heart of Leeds’ defence, replacing the figure of Pontus Jansson with ease and demonstrating why he is so highly sought-after. He’s made 1.9 tackles per game while demonstrating fabulous reading of the play, registering 2.7 interceptions per outing on average.
It isn’t just defensive attributes that he would bring, but an ability to drive with the ball from deep and pick out a pass, as best demonstrated when he brilliantly set-up Patrick Bamford’s goal against Luton last week.
He would add a different dynamic to the Newcastle set-up and fit perfectly into the counter-attacking style that Bruce has installed since taking over.
Whether he is a realistic option is another question, as if the clubs mentioned register a solid interest then the Magpies would have to work hard to persuade him to move to the north-east.
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