Why Ben White would be a brilliant signing for Chelsea
According to The Sun, Chelsea are planning to make a shock January bid for Brighton and Hove Albion defender Ben White, who currently plies his trade with Leeds United on loan.
Chelsea are allowed to sign players now that their ban has been lifted and they are looking for reinforcements in all key areas. The report suggests that Chelsea have been watching the youngster for a long time and are convinced by his sportsmanship on the field.
Frank Lampard’s young squad have gone through the highs and lows in the Premier League this season and seem to be inconsistent in their performance after playing well for quite some time. The defence has been one area where the manager will be hoping to make some changes.
Kurt Zouma has not been at his best since returning from loan and Antonio Rudiger was absent for a long time from the squad. While Fikayo Tomori looks to be improving, Andreas Christensen has played very few games in the league.
In that case, Ben White would be a better back-up for the Blues’ first-choices. He has received rave reviews for his performance this season and has proven to be a leader in the backline for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, who are aiming for a return to the top-flight.
Leeds have kept 12 clean sheets so far and White’s contribution at the heart of the defence has been a sight to watch in the Championship. He came through the ranks of Brighton’s youth system and was previously loaned to Newport County and Peterborough.
He switched to Leeds again on loan last summer and has taken his opportunities with both hands by featuring in 42 games. With his skilful and ice-cold displays, Chelsea are thinking of making him a first-team member if they sign him, according to the report.
A cool and collected customer on the ball, White can be even more effective if he gets to play at a higher level with Lampard’s men. According to Whoscored, the Englishman has registered 1.8 tackles, 2.5 interceptions, and 3.6 clearances so far in the Championship. He has also been impressive in passing with an accuracy of 84.9%.
At Chelsea, he can surely grow to be a complete defensive package if he keeps putting in the hard work. And if the move happens, he would also be eligible to play in the Champions League, a priority and success for every player.
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Verdict
Though the Seagulls have no intention of selling the 22-year-old, Chelsea’s bid of £25m would be tempting enough for his parent club to let him go. And this might be a good chance for the Blues to sign a homegrown player and see that he succeeds in the long run.
Therefore, White would be brilliant at Stamford Bridge if he is given the chance and Lampard must lure him before his admirers come knocking on the door.