A few Leeds United fans have been reacting on social media, after StatZone shared that on-loan Brighton & Hove Albion defender Ben White currently leads the Championship with 72 interceptions.
White has started all 28 of our second-tier fixtures since arriving in West Yorkshire on a one-season deal last summer, and is the only outfield United player to have played all 2,520 minutes of league action.
The 22-year-old has firmly become a vital aspect of Marcelo Bielsa’s backline at Elland Road, and has helped one-time Spain international Kiko Casilla to keep a division-high 12 clean sheets through their respective performances.
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Leeds have denied opposing teams from scoring in 42.9% of our league games to date, partly due to White’s Championship-best record of 72 interceptions.
The next nearest second-tier player in terms of interceptions over the first 28 matches is Barnsley’s 22-year-old defender Mads Anderson with 63 in 26 appearances, per WhoScored data, who have recorded White as making 70.
Charlton Athletic’s Darren Pratley (59 in 26 games), Wigan Athletic’s Antonee Robinson (56 in 28) and Bristol City’s Tommy Rowe (55 in 25) round out the top-five.
White has also registered an average of 72 touches per game, an 85 per cent pass accuracy rating, won 178 duels and recorded 19 blocks, according to StatZone’s data.
The Poole-born ace’s efforts have sparked Brighton to value him at more than £20million, amid rumoured interest from Anfield with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp considering the 5 ft 11 centre-half as a potential replacement for Dejan Lovren.
Here are some of the reactions offered to StatZone’s data on White in the Championship since his arrival on loan…
Ssshhhhhhhhhhhhh or everyone will hear
— Monkey Head (@monkeyhead78) January 24, 2020
Why you telling everyone 😡
— Paul (@LEYTONREECE) January 24, 2020
Legend💛💙💛
— Deano💙💛💙 (@DeanMckeating) January 24, 2020
Get him signed permanently then
— Meh (@boothyric) January 24, 2020
Shhhhhhhhh 🤫👀
— Rob (@BobbyBreck) January 24, 2020
Stop RTing stuff 🤬🤬🤬🤬
— 👑 Oli WΔlker 💙💛 – Yorkshire Not English (@LUFC__Oli) January 24, 2020
In other Leeds United news, the club are NOT expected to make a six-goal striker our January saviour despite recent reports.