Ben White Next Club Odds - January 2021

January is just around the corner and the transfer stories and speculation has gradually began to pick up.

There are plenty of figures finding their name in the rumour mill, and one player that will be accustomed to such is Ben White.

The Brighton defender was heavily linked with a move away from the Seagulls last summer, after a productive loan spell with Leeds United. The Whites reportedly made numerous bids for the 23-year-old, but Brighton stuck firm to their high valuation of the player.

Will they try their luck again in the winter market? If reports are to believed, they aren’t the only club potentially interested in his services.

We’ve looked into Ben White’s next club odds and the stories surrounding him.

In summer, Leeds held a short 7/4 price to sign White on a permanent basis. As mentioned, the defender enjoyed a successful time during his loan spell, to which he featured in every single minute in the Championship.

A large portion of the club’s title win can be credited to their incredible defensive record - 35 goals conceded in just 46 games, the best in the division. White’s prescence was certainly felt in Marcelo Bielsa’s side and their fans were gutted to see him go.

Leeds reportedly made three separate bids in summer for the player, all of which were rejected by Brighton.

The Seagulls wanted to keep White to help ensure their own Premier League safety, slapping a huge valuation on the Englishman’s head. Their asking price was possibly a bracket above where Leeds can venture into, potentially casting doubt over a January move.

In stark contrast to their summer price, Leeds are now a huge 25/1 to sign White in January.

Conducting business in January is far from ideal for clubs, particularly those from the top six. Nobody wants to sell their best players half-way through the season, meaning asking prices tend to surge.

Even in ordinary circumstances, executing efficient deals over winter is somewhat unheard of, never mind in a COVID-19 effected market.

However, injuries can force plans. Alarm bells were set off at Liverpool when they found out the fate of Virgil van Dijk’s injury back in October. They would be missing their star defender for the rest of the season - leaving a hole in their side that no figure in Europe can fill.

A new defensive recruit will still likely be on top of Jurgen Klopp’s Christmas wish-list though, so he can push Fabinho back into the midfield. The Brazilian has served well at the back, as Liverpool’s impressive form continues to show, but rotation will be required during this busy period.

On the back of such context, it won’t come as a surprise to see the Reds be granted the tag as favourites to sign White in January. They have odds of 7/2.

Manchester United's odds of 25/1 to sign White are certainly interesting, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was reportedly keen on signing a new CB in summer.

According to a recent report from the MEN too, the Red Devils have scouted the Brighton defender, with the position being a priority for the club. Their price hasn't shifted since the news, so it could be one to watch in the market.

Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof remain the manager's preferred duo at the back, but neither possess any real threat to challenging their staring spot. Could White do so? He fits the transfer profile of what Solskjaer has looked to rebuild the squad with - a young talent who is comfortable on the ball, not to mention his British heritage too.

At 25/1, this could be the value pick on this list.

It's hard to rule out lavish spenders Manchester City out of any transfer story, but this one looks very unlikely.

Pep Guardiola signed two centre-halves last summer, in the shape of Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias, taking his total spend on defenders at the club to over €500m. The latter, in particular, has impressed early on in his City career, solidifying a strong partnership with Aymeric Laporte.

Although the Sky Blues' are failing to hit the heights expected of them this season, such issues have not necessarily been down to their defenders. Spending on another CB would do little to change their fortunes, but instead, a new central midfielder seems the likely route to ignite some energy back into Pep's side.

Their large odds of 33/1 are perhaps therefore justified.