Leeds United submit third offer for Brighton defender Ben White - reports

Leeds United have submitted a third and final formal offer for Brighton defender Ben White, according to reports.

The Elland Road club have seen bids of £18.5m and £22m rejected for the centre-back so far in the transfer window but have now returned to the Seagulls with a third approach.

United's latest bid is believed to be around the £25m mark with White having also rejected a third fresh contract offer at the Amex stadium.

The 22-year-old is highly-rated by Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa after spending last season on loan in West Yorkshire and has two years left on his current deal on the south coast.

White featured in every single league fixture for the club with the Argentine guiding his side to promotion to the Premier League as Championship title winners last month.

Brighton returned to pre-season training this week ahead of next month's top flight season opener on September 12 and have been firm in their stance so far that White is not for sale in the current transfer window.

Leeds are closely monitoring Freiburg defender Robin Koch as an alternative if they are unsuccessful in their latest attempt to lure the club's top defensive target back to LS11 this summer.

The 24-year-old German international is seen as a good alternative option to White and has just a year left to run on his contract with the Bundesliga outfit.

Bielsa's men have also been linked with a move for Rangers winger Ryan Kent with Leeds long-time admirers of the Liverpool academy product.