Brighton chief hails Leeds United for 'helping to develop' Ben White

Centre-back White excelled for Leeds during last season's loan spell from Brighton with the defender playing every minute of every Leeds league game as United were promoted as Championship champions.

Leeds then made White one of their top targets of the summer but big-money bids to secure the defender's services were rejected with the Seagulls insisting the 22-year-old centre-back was not for sale.

The defender's agent Alex Levack then told Sky Sports News that there was no chance of Brighton selling the defender to Leeds but to "watch this space" regards news in the next few days.

The centre-back has been on the radar of a host of established Premier League big guns, including champions Liverpool, but Barber says his club have no interest in selling and says Leeds did exactly what his side had hoped for with the defender during his season-long loan.

Reports now suggest that the defender is about to sign a new long-term deal with the Seagulls.

"He is a terrific young player," Barber told talkSPORT.

“The whole point of him going out on loan was to develop him in League Two, League One, the Championship.

“Leeds did a fantastic job in helping us develop him.

"But we are looking forward to Ben playing for us in the Premier League and certainly that’s what he will be doing.

“We haven’t got any interest in selling Ben.

“He is training with the squad and we are looking forward to seeing him in action in blue and white stripes very soon.”

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Thank you Laura Collins