'We respect and love him' - White returns to Leedspublished at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 16 January 2021
Leeds United v Brighton (15:00 GMT)
A familiar face returns to Elland Road today in the shape of Brighton's Ben White - an integral part of Marcelo Bielsa's promotion-winning side last season.
White was revered by Leeds fans for his performances at centre-half alongside skipper Liam Cooper, playing all 46 league games and named the club's young player of the year.
Unsurprisingly, Leeds were keen to turn the 23-year-old's season-long loan into a permanent deal in the summer. But Brighton stood firm and reportedly turned down an offer worth £25m from the West Yorkshire club.
"All of us here, we admire him as a player and we respect him and love him as a human being," Bielsa said about White in his pre-match news conference.
"He was an excellent professional as well as a team-mate. I hope that his career allows him to grow because he deserves it."
White, who has impressed in his debut Premier League season, will line up in a holding midfield role for Brighton this afternoon.