‘Sky’s the limit’: Luke Ayling tips Leeds promotion hero to join top team and win Premier League title

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Leeds United defender Luke Ayling has waxed lyrical about Elland Road promotion hero Ben White, tipping him to become a regular England international and win the Premier League title in future.

The 23-year-old joined Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites on loan in the summer of 2019, and he proved a revelation at Elland Road.

White, who hadn’t made an appearance in English football’s top two divisions prior to his Leeds loan, featured in every one of their Championship games en route to the title.

The Whites were eager to snap him up following their promotion to the Premier League but they were ultimately unsuccessful as White penned a new deal at Brighton.

White has since established himself as a key player for the Seagulls, making 28 top-flight appearances this season, and 31 in all competitions.

Ayling, speaking to Sky Sports, said: “(White is) top, top quality.

“He showed mental strength to come in here as a lad that nobody knew about – I think if you had asked the lads, they would have said they didn’t really know who Ben White was – and step into Pontus’ shoes and hit the ground running.

“I was injured for our first game, against Bristol City, so I watched it on TV and he was just Cruyffing centre-forwards, so relaxed. A real, real quality player with a strong mentality. The sky’s the limit for him.

“I’ve got no doubt that he’ll play for England soon and play many games for them. He’ll probably go to one of the top teams in England and probably win the league and that because he’s that good, I think.”

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White is a young defender of the highest calibre who is assured of a place in Leeds’ history books for his heroics last season, and who has done superbly for Brighton this term, so much so that speculation has emerged linking him with the likes of Liverpool.

While it’s a shame that White didn’t join Leeds permanently, you can understand why Brighton wouldn’t want to simply part ways with a player on their books who turned out to be a star in the making.