Pranav Nair
Jose Mourinho’s Roma enter the race for Manchester United target Ben White
According to The Sun, AS Roma have entered the race for Manchester United target Ben White heading into the summer transfer window.
One of the Premier League’s best young defenders, the 23-year-old Brighton star has impressed in his first full season in the top-flight. White spent last season on loan at Leeds United, where he helped the Yorkshire outfit win promotion to the Premier League.
His transition to the Premier League has not been without its errors. But he has largely held his own and is only likely to improve.
Former United boss Jose Mourinho is a fan of the player and scouted him when he was at Tottenham Hotspur. Now set to take over at Roma in the summer, the Portuguese boss is keen to rekindle that interest.
However, despite Roma’s keenness to back their manager, Brighton’s £45million asking price could prove to be a major hurdle. With White’s contract running until 2024, the Seagulls hold the advantage when it comes to negotiations.
While he is far from the finished package, the 23-year-old could blossom into a top-class centre-back provided he is in the right environment.
Roma are not the only continental club keeping tabs on White. The likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund are also interested in the young Englishman.
Speaking on the Transfer Window Podcast (h/t The Sun), Duncan Castles has revealed that United skipper Harry Maguire is keen to team up with White at Old Trafford.
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It is no secret that United are in need of a new defender heading into next season. White, for his part, is open to moving to United. Whether it will come to pass remains to be seen.
