---
title: "Brighton & Hove Albion: Potential Ben White boost for Seagulls as Leeds eye Robin Koch"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/brighton-ben-white-transfer-boost-leeds-robin-koch/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Brighton & Hove Albion"
published: "2020-08-17T12:10:49Z"
modified: "2020-08-17T12:10:49Z"
---

# Brighton & Hove Albion: Potential Ben White boost for Seagulls as Leeds eye Robin Koch

**Brighton’s hopes of keeping [Ben White](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/brighton-transfer-rumours/brighton-criticised-noel-whelan-ben-white-leeds-transfer-latest/) could be boosted amid reports that Leeds are looking elsewhere for defensive reinforcements.**

The Yorkshire club [had the 22-year-old on loan](https://www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk/sport/football/ben-white-signs-new-contract-with-brighton-but-joins-leeds-united-on-loan-1-8981572) last season and recently submitted a £22m bid to sign him permanently, [which the Seagulls rejected](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12040/12045292/ben-white-brighton-reject-22m-leeds-bid-for-defender).

However, the newly-promoted Premier League side are now looking instead at a defender from the Bundesliga, with [The Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/08/16/mike-mcgraths-transfer-notebookleeds-united-will-look-germany/) reporting that they are interested in Freiburg’s Robin Koch.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Koch is a [twice-capped Germany international](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/robin-koch/nationalmannschaft/spieler/328784/verein_id/3262) who was a mainstay of Freiburg’s defence last season, playing in [all but two of their Bundesliga games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/robin-koch/leistungsdaten/spieler/328784) as they finished [just outside the European places](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/1-bundesliga/tabelle/wettbewerb/L1/saison_id/2019).

According to a report from [O Jogo](https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/1a-liga/benfica/noticias/friburgo-recursou-15-milhoes-mas-benfica-olha-agora-para-preco-de-saldo-11987291.html), the the 24-year-old could be available for as little as £10.8m given the [downturn in the transfer market](https://www.ft.com/content/067a3eeb-e915-48af-8384-94fdc495cf59) amid the global pandemic. That is less than a third of the £35m that Brighton are reportedly demanding for White, according to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-liverpool-want-to-sign-pl-ace-electrifying-their-scouts-35m-may-seal-deal/).

\[freshpress-quiz id=”306835″\]

At the moment, the 22-year-old is among a [plethora of central defensive options](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/brighton-amp-hove-albion/kadernachposition/verein/1237) available to Seagulls manager Graham Potter. However, [two of Albion’s more regular centre-backs](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/brighton-amp-hove-albion/leistungsdaten/verein/1237) have recently been linked with exits from the club.

According to [The Mirror](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/chelsea-eye-john-stones-lewis-22531546), Chelsea are reportedly willing to pay £40m to bring Lewis Dunk to Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, the [Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/shane-duffy-talks-opened-celtic-22531609?_ga=2.250963206.1606933477.1597655548-1537486511.1588352392) claimed that Celtic have opened transfer talks with Shane Duffy, who has also been linked with Burnley, West Ham, West Brom and indeed Leeds.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

With Dunk being Brighton’s captain and a [mainstay of their defence for the past six seasons](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/86441/History/Lewis-Dunk), and with Duffy being an experienced Premier League player [despite playing less frequently last term](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/75692/History/Shane-Duffy) compared to previous campaigns, the Seagulls face a potential central defensive cull in this transfer window.

However, with Leeds reportedly turning to Koch as a possible centre-back signing, that may lead to their interest in a permanent move for White diminishing, which would spell good news for Brighton amid the possibility of their other defenders being cherry-picked.

\[freshpress-poll id=”314394″\]

Also, [having played every minute](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ben-white/leistungsdaten/spieler/335721) of the Whites’ Championship-winning 2019/20 campaign, the 22-year-old returns to the Amex Stadium with plenty of senior experience under his belt.

***Brighton fans, how confident are you of keeping White at the Amex for the 2020/21 season? Have your say by commenting below!***