Exclusive: Mills has swipe at Jansson as he tips ‘Outstanding footballer’ for Leeds exit
Danny Mills has hailed Ben White as the best player at Leeds United this season and an upgrade on the man he replaced, Pontus Jansson.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-United defender explained why he is a huge fan of “outstanding footballer” White.
But Mills does not believe the centre-back, 22, will be at Elland Road too long as “very big” Premier League clubs will be queuing up to prise him from Brighton.
White is on a season-long loan at Leeds and Seagulls manager Graham Potter insisted last week he does not intend to recall the defender in the upcoming transfer window.
Asked to name United’s best player across the first half of the season as they target promotion, Mills told Football Insider: “Ben White. I think he has been outstanding.
“Didn’t know too much about him when he came into the club. Obviously, Pontus Jansson was starting to become a cult hero at Leeds, mainly because of some of the stuff he was doing off the pitch, not always on it.
“But he’s come in (White) and he’s an outstanding footballer.
“He can play and he can defend and I think that’s why, sadly for Leeds…they will struggle to keep hold of him.
“There will be very big Premier League sides desperate to snap him up.”
White has started all 22 of Leeds’ Championship matches this season after previously never playing higher than League One level.
He is set to be named in the team for today’s trip to Fulham as Marcelo Bielsa’s team look to extend an outstanding run that has left them second in the league and 10 points clear of Preston North End in third.
In other Leeds United news, Football Insider can reveal that the club are working on late-December signing as they aim to use the ‘Bielsa factor’ to get deal over the finish line today.