When Leeds United sold Pontus Jansson to Brentford this summer, many a fan was apoplectic with bewilderment at the decision. Jansson was a huge fan favourite at Elland Road, he was also in the team of the year last season and had been labelled ‘the best player at the club’ by Marcelo Bielsa, yet Leeds made the sale for only £5.5m.
The reasoning behind this sudden and frustrating sale was to bring the club in line with Financial Fair Play rules, with some even reporting a murmuring of discontent in the changing rooms caused by the Swede.
Since the sale of Jansson (28), Leeds United moved to bring in Ben White from Brighton and Hove Albion on a season-long-loan, who was never intended to be Janssons replacement, according to the fans.
White spent last season on loan in League One at Peterborough United, not really a player the Leeds fans had either heard of or were confident could step into the giant shoes vacated by Pontus Jansson… but has that opinion changed?
Well, that opinion has been smashed to smithereens as Ben White (21) has started life in Leeds with immense confidence and capability, forcing fans to admit that they were very wide of the mark in their initial consensus.
He has forged a steely partnership with captain Liam Cooper already and his laid back and assured demeanour has been met with glowing references from fans and pundits alike. White is a positive footballer, always looking forwards when the opportunity does arise and very, very calm when the pressure is on in front of his own goal.
Brighton will be chuffed with his start to life in Leeds, along with everyone associated with Leeds United.
So the question remains… do Leeds United miss Pontus Jansson?
Here is a clip of White in action this season for Leeds, with fan comments… I will let you make your own mind up as to whether the fans miss the Swede.
Check out Ben White highlights so far for Leeds United.
Watch the full video (10 minutes) with better quality here: https://t.co/qDOPgfVeTu
RTs and Likes are much appreciated. #LUFC pic.twitter.com/UKDyueH7Kv
— LeedsUnitedComps (@LeedsUtdComps) September 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/J_4710/status/1169682736782761985?s=20
is this the same Ben White that all the #lufc twidiots were whining uncontrollably about when he signed? the same Ben White that Orta scouted for almost 2 years? these fools who keep dissing our players need to take a hike once and for all and stay away forever
— ⭐️⭐️⭐️GraciasMarcelo💙💛 (@delmeister1) September 6, 2019
So much potential
— 💛Thursday 17th October 2019💙 (@WACCOE) September 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/SamAllanUK/status/1169726469247033344?s=20
https://twitter.com/LUFCLDP1989/status/1169712294378516483?s=20
Ben White is proving very popular with The Whites fans… maybe they’ll want him for a longer stay should they achieve their goal of Premier League football next season.