Exclusive: Club respond to new 6-figure Leeds defender bid
Brighton have rejected a second bid from Leeds United for young centre-back Haydon Roberts, Football Insider has learned.
As revealed by this site yesterday, Marcelo Bielsa's side have returned to the negotiating table with an improved offer of £800,000 for the 18-year-old after their initial bid was knocked back last week.
A Leeds source has told Football Insider that Brighton have once again refused to accept their offer in what has been a common theme for the two clubs in this window.
The Seagulls refused three bids rising up to £30million for Ben White before they persuaded him to sign a new contract.
The promise of regular first-team football and a change in system to a three-man defence was enough to keep hold of White, who has started both their Premier League matches in the new season.
Roberts has also been in the Brighton team this season, albeit as a 22nd minute substitute in last week's 4-0 EFL Cup thrashing of League One Portsmouth.
That was his second appearance for the club and proof of how highly rated he is by manager Graham Potter.
The Brighton hierarchy are likely to need to tie Roberts down to a new contract to prevent him leaving.
He is out of contract next June and speculation has also linked him with RB Leipzig, Derby County and Brentford.
Like 2019-20 Leeds sensation White, Roberts has graduated from the youth ranks to play for the first team at the Amex Stadium.
He marked what was a memorable senior debut aged just 17 in September of last year with a goal in a defeat to Aston Villa.
In addition to his two matches for the senior side, Roberts has also earn more than 20 caps at England youth level.