On-loan Brighton defender Ben White has been excellent at Leeds. (Getty Images)
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Tottenham signing this solid 22-year-old loanee would sort out defence for the next decade

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Why signing White could solve Tottenham’s woes in defence

According to Sky Sports, Tottenham are monitoring Brighton defender Ben White, who is currently on loan at Leeds United.

The Seagulls defender has become a regular at Leeds under manager Marcelo Bielsa, making 26 league appearances, and playing 2 times in the Carabao Cup.

The 22-year-old centre-back has been a rock-solid presence at the back for Leeds this season, helping them to the top of the table after 26 games.

On-loan Brighton defender Ben White has been excellent at Leeds. (Getty Images)
On-loan Brighton defender Ben White has been excellent at Leeds. (Getty Images)

His excellent displays at the back have made the Whites one of the strongest defensive sides, conceding a mere 21 goals so far. Only Brentford, who have leaked in 20 goals have a better record than them in the Championship.

Despite turning heads with his standalone performances, the youngster has not made a single appearance for his parent club Brighton’s senior side until now.

Last year’s Champions League runners-up Tottenham, meanwhile, have conceded a lot of goals this season, which saw them stoop to the bottom half of the table. However, the arrival of new boss Jose Mourinho has stabilised a defence that has conceded as many as 30 league goals so far.

Josh Onomah of Fulham is being tackled by Ben White of Leeds United during the Sky Bet Championship match between the two sides at Craven Cottage.
Josh Onomah of Fulham is being tackled by Ben White of Leeds United during the Sky Bet Championship match between the two sides at Craven Cottage. (Getty Images)

They are now sixth in the table, six points short of fourth-placed Chelsea but Mourinho would know that there is still a lot of work to be done if they wish to keep their hopes of a Champions League spot still alive.

That said, Spurs need some new faces in the squad, especially in the defence, with the side not making any defensive signings in the summer.

Former boss Pochettino had handed out the centre-back responsibilities to the side’s old guards Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, who were one of the best defensive duos in the Premier League once.

However, they look way past their prime now, which has been quite evident from their poor form early in the season. Mourinho’s arrival, however, opened the doors for Davinson Sanchez, who now guards the heart of the Spurs defence alongside Alderweireld.

Tottenham's new boss Jose Mourinho.
Tottenham’s new boss Jose Mourinho. (Getty Images)

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Also, with Vertonghen’s contract set to expire in the summer, Tottenham are not left with too many options in central defence apart from Juan Foyth, who is yet to impress Mourinho.

White, meanwhile, is blessed with excellent tackling and interception skills, which might come in handy for a Tottenham backline that has leaked too many goals this season.

His 3.6 clearances and 2.6 interceptions per match in the Championship lay further claim to his defensive capabilities, making him an excellent fit at the North London side. (Source: Whoscored).

Verdict

Tottenham have been solely dependent on the Vertonghen-Alderweireld partnership for too long now and a new young face such as White could bring some energy and vigour back into a backline that has looked unstable this season.

Currently proving his mettle in the second division with some eye-catching displays, there is no doubt that the 22-year-old White is a bright talent. Thus, by bringing in the youngster, Tottenham will be able to resolve their ongoing issues at the back.