Brighton boss Graham Potter reveals plans for Leeds United's Seagulls loanee Ben White

BRIGHTON boss Graham Potter says Leeds United's Seagulls loanee Ben White is a big part of his plans for next season.
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Centre-back White has excelled at Leeds since joining the club on a season-long loan last summer with the 22-year-old having played every minute of every league game so far as part of the best defence in the Championship.

White's future then made national headlines this week as five-year-old Whites fan Daniel Auton wrote to Brighton chief executive Paul Barber to offer the £15.07 in his piggy bank in a bid to land the defender's services.

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Barber took the time to write back to the young Whites supporter, thanking him for his offer but ultimately rejecting it.

CLASSY: Leeds United's Brighton loanee Ben White fends off Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette during the third round FA Cup clash at the Emirates back in January. Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images.CLASSY: Leeds United's Brighton loanee Ben White fends off Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette during the third round FA Cup clash at the Emirates back in January. Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images.
CLASSY: Leeds United's Brighton loanee Ben White fends off Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette during the third round FA Cup clash at the Emirates back in January. Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images.

Barber insisted White was "not for sale" with the defender labelled a "very important part of our future."

Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani also responded to the letter, saluting the young United fan's efforts and declaring: "We will top up your offer for Ben and go back to Mr Barber."

White has even been tipped in some quarters for an imminent England call-up and several big name clubs in the Premier League are monitoring his progress.

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But Seagulls boss Potter says the Leeds defender is featuring firmly in his thoughts for next season with Potter impressed with White's progress and insisting he would have signed the defender were he still at former club Swansea City.

Asked if he had thought about how he may use White next season and if he was expecting him to be a big part of his plans, Potter said: "Absolutely, he’s been part of the discussions.

"We’re aware of how well he’s done and we're aware of his qualities.

“As I’ve said before, we would have signed him if we were still at our previous club so we are aware of the journey he’s been on and it’s been a fantastic journey in terms of his loan experiences.

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"He’s had a wonderful time at Leeds and at the same time we are aware of where his future may be.

"He's still got the season to finish with Leeds, he's still got a job to complete that loan spell and then we see from there."

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