By Wayne Veysey

12th Aug, 2020 | 10:57am

Exclusive: Brighton respond after Leeds submit huge new Ben White bid

Leeds United have had an improved £30million bid for Ben White rejected by Brighton & Hove Albion, Football Insider can reveal.

United were unsuccessful with two opening offers for the centre-back, 22, of £18.5m and £22m.

A Leeds source has told Football Insider the club have returned to the negotiating table with a massive new bid for the player who had an outstanding season on loan at Elland Road in 2019-20.

But the Seagulls have knocked back the offer which would comfortably smash Leeds’ record signing.

That was the £18m paid to sign Rio Ferdinand from West Ham in 2000.

Leeds have made the permanent capture of White one of their top priorities in this summer’s window after his immense progress under Marcelo Bielsa in the recently-competed season.

Graham Potter has publicly and privately made clear how highly he rates White but the youngster has still only played two matches for his parent club.

He has spent the last three seasons on loan, also playing for Peterborough United and Newport County.

Significantly, Potter can call upon four other senior centre-backs at Brighton, with Shane Duffy and converted left-back Dan Burn on the club’s books in addition to first-choice pair Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy.

White has formed strong connections with the players at the Leeds including best pal Phillips..

White was an ever-present in Leeds’ title-winning campaign and even stepped in to play in midfield when Phillips was unavailable through injury or suspension.

In other news, Leeds United have submitted a formal bid for another young forward as they plot fifth summer signing.