Brighton and Hove Albion boss Graham Potter has refused to add further fuel to fire to the speculation surrounding Liverpool FC’s keen interest in making a move for the highly-rated Ben White in January.
With the Reds reeling with the loss of Virgil van Dijk to a long-term ACL injury, Jurgen Klopp is in dire need of first-team options at centre-back. Joel Matip and Joe Gomez remain the only experienced central defenders at Anfield, which has led to Klopp slotting Fabinho in the centre-back role for now.
White’s name has been linked with a switch to the Merseyside outfit for quite some time now, however, with Van Dijk’s injury potentially ruling the Dutchman out for the 2020-21 season, Liverpool FC are understood to be wanting to sign the 22-year old Brighton man this coming January.
When asked by reporters to comment upon the matter, Potter brushed aside any rumours of the young defender wanting to sign for the Premier League champions.
White’s professionalism was applauded by his manager, who was confident in his ability to keep the in-demand centre-back at the Amex despite strong interest in the player from Jurgen Klopp’s side.
“I think it is a bit like it was at the start of the season. All sorts of talk about him doing this, him doing that, and it is generated by outside, by outside of our control really,” Potter said, as reported by the Daily Mirror.
“It is part of the football noise. The transfer window closed last week and we are already having conversations around transfer speculation. It’s just the way it is.
“I know he is level-headed enough to not let it affect him. I think at this level you have to know it is part of the territory.
“It is part of the job of being a footballer, while it’s part of what you have to deal with. Consistently all he has done is get on with his football.
“He has come into training, tried to be professional, tried his best, and tried to play football. I have no concerns about Ben.”
