Brighton could face a battle to retain the services of teenage defender Haydon Roberts, who has been the subject of renewed interest from Leeds.
Football Insider reported that the Whites have rejected a second bid for the 18-year-old, having already turned down an initial offer from the Elland Road outfit last week.
A Leeds source indicated to Football Insider that the club went back to the Seagulls with an improved offer of £800,000 for the England under-18 international, but that has also been rebuffed.
Roberts is in the final year of his contract at the Amex Stadium but Brighton do not want to lose the youngster, who they believe is capable of becoming a Premier League player (as per Football Insider).
The 18-year-old made his second senior appearance for the club in last week’s Carabao Cup win against Portsmouth, having also played (and scored in) the competition a year ago against Aston Villa. However, he has yet to even feature in a matchday squad for a Premier League fixture. [via TransferMarkt]
According to Football Insider, the teenager has been compared to Seagulls team-mate Ben White, who plays in the same position and has also been the subject of renewed transfer interest from Leeds. Following a fruitful loan spell at Elland Road last season, the Yorkshire club made three unsuccessful bids to try and sign him permanently, with the 22-year-old signing a new contract at the Amex at the start of this month.
Roberts, who made 14 appearances for Brighton’s under-23 side in Premier League 2 last term, has stiff competition ahead of him in Graham Potter’s first team, with five centre-backs in the senior Albion squad.
Considering that Brighton had assigned a £50m price tag on White to ward off prospective suitors, for Roberts to draw comparisons with the 22-year-old is a glowing reflection on the teenager.
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It is quite understandable why the Seagulls are reluctant to sell him, particularly for a measly sum of £800,000; although they ought to give consideration to a potential loan exit for the youngster so that he, like White has done, can gain valuable first team exposure elsewhere before returning to his parent club when the time is right.
Brighton fans, what do you make of Leeds’ reported offer for Roberts? Have your say by commenting below!
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