Still giddy from a rollercoaster season that saw their side promoted to the Premier League, Leeds United fans have started an online campaign to 'Free Ben White'.
Central defender White, 22, was on loan at the Whites last season, and was one of the outstanding performers in a side packed with high performers.
White's parent club are Brighton and Hove Albion, and Leeds are just one of the clubs reportedly interested in White, with long-standing interest from Liverpool and Chelsea.
A support base not easily put off by such competition, Leeds fans have seen the #FreeBenWhite campaign take on a life of its own.
Free Ben White campaign
Graham Potter's side are well-stacked in central defence, with Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster, Shane Duffy and White now complemented by new signing Joel Veltman.
And, if Leeds fans get their way, White will be lining up in white next season:
FREE BEN FROM BRIGHTON!
💙💛🎶😂#FreeBenWhite #LUFC pic.twitter.com/rbtk53RPjd— Paul Wilson (@pwilsonmusic) August 9, 2020
My contribution. #FreeBenWhite #lufc pic.twitter.com/eX0w2vMRRz
— Mike Hartley (@Mike_icebreaker) August 9, 2020
#lufc copy paste tweet trend 💛🤍💙 #FreeBenWhite #FreeBenWhite #FreeBenWhite #FreeBenWhite #FreeBenWhite #FreeBenWhite #FreeBenWhite #FreeBenWhite #FreeBenWhite #FreeBenWhite #FreeBenWhite #FreeBenWhite #FreeBenWhite #FreeBenWhite #FreeBenWhite #FreeBenWhite #FreeBenWhite pic.twitter.com/mMxlrnoQvB
— Alienbumnote↙️🤍🤍🤍 (@alienbumnote) August 9, 2020
In the words of Michael Sheen, bollocks to bloody Brighton.#LUFC #FreeBenWhitehttps://t.co/FGfdZwpZj3 pic.twitter.com/mYEFZCdT88
— LUFC Lewis (@LewisDeighton17) August 9, 2020
Amazing @ben6white needs to be playing for @LUFC in the Prem every week next season.@LUFC a club who recognise, reward & develop his talent; teammates who value & love him & a fan base who adore him. Unique !
Phillips & White; backbone of Leeds & England 2020's#FreeBenWhite pic.twitter.com/KVN1TIklM9— Chris Smith (@RobinHood7761) August 9, 2020
Seen this on Filey beach this morning #FreeBenWhite pic.twitter.com/V5P6pbrrcI
— Richard Asquith-Dolan (@richarddolan7) August 9, 2020
“So Ben, would you sign for Leeds?”
Ben White:#FreeBenWhite pic.twitter.com/sieoR5mY1f— Tommo (@LUFC1992_v2) August 8, 2020
The money available to Leeds United may pose something of a problem, particularly when the Whites have so recently been dealing with major financial battles.
"Their finances, in terms of Financial Fair Play, are right on the cusp. But they've handled it quite well," BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope told Off The Ball last month.
"To give you an example, the club is still losing money so [Andrea] Radrizzani, the club's owner, still has to write cheques to account for the losses.
"The wage bill has gone up massively from [Massimo] Cellino's days to about £40 million which is where they felt it had to be if they wanted to compete at the top end of the Championship.
"They are a pretty clean club compared to where they were the last time they were in the Premier League."
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