Brighton & Hove Albion star Ben White has emerged as the latest target for Manchester United as they look for defensive reinforcements.
According to Manchester Evening News, Ben White’s list of potential suitors could yet increase as Manchester United have now expressed interest in the Brighton & Hove Albion star. The Red Devils added him in the list of defensive targets for summer 2021, with the list also including Dayot Upamecano and Raphael Varane.
It is believed that Brighton are determined to keep hold of White in the near future, having tied him down to a new contract before the start of the season. Unfortunately, they could be forced to offload the defender next summer, though he won’t presumably be available for a cut-price.
Financial depravity hasn’t historically been a problem for Manchester United, who notably spent a fortune to secure the services of Harry Maguire in 2018. Rather, the Premier League giants should fear the competition they could face in pursuit of White, who has also been courted by Liverpool this season.
If anything, the Reds could step up their interest in the young centre-back as they are unlikely to take the risk of heading into a campaign with limited defensive options next season.
United, as well, are also in dire need of reinforcements in the defensive unit considering the rapid fall from grace of players like Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones while Eric Bailly has had his fair share of injury problems. As a result, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is left with two reliable options at centre-back in Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire, none of who have performed consistently this campaign.
The potential addition of White, in that regard, should add some healthy competition in the United backline. He can compete with Lindelof and Axel Tuanzebe for a place in the first-team. But more importantly, it is his ball-playing qualities that could aid the Manchester United side, who otherwise have quality attacking players as well as the industrious Bruno Fernandes.
Additionally, the Brighton defender can operate as a defensive midfielder, which was evident during his time at Leeds United last season as Marcelo Bielsa used him as an alternative for Kalvin Phillips at times. It could offer more tactical options for Solskjaer at his disposal, ultimately making United much stronger as an overall defensive unit.
