Your Transfer Rumor Is Bullshit: Will Someone Please Take Ben White?

When a transfer rumor leads back to a fan blog, you know you’re scraping the bottom of the summer transfer rumor barrel. And unlike a certain boycott of a certain energy drink from a certain Liverpool blog, today’s rumor is said without humor or irony.

Apparently, some Real Madrid blog thinks that Brighton & Hove Albion’s 23-year-old defender Ben White has what it takes to be a Galactico. And for the cut-rate fee of £50 million!

Of course, they’ll face some stiff competition from the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham (is this before or after they get their manager situation sorted?), Arsenal, and Manchester United. Have we named all the big clubs in England? Sound. That’ll drive clicks.

The rumor was then picked up by British tabloids, and then by this blog, to feed that same content-driven need. But unlike the British tabloids, our humble blog is more than happy to call out bullshit if and when it’s appropriate. And this feels pretty appropriate.

The theory behind this rumor is that Carlo Ancelotti apparently likes the cut of White’s jib. If true, then I’m truly sorry for Carlo. He’s gone full Everton. Never go full Everton.

I know we’re a Liverpool blog, and we’ll get back to that in a second, but the Real Madrid aspect is truly the most bizarre. Real Madrid are not the kind of club to pick up up and coming English stars. On the rare occasion when they do sign a player from the British Isles—Beckham, Bale, Owen—it’s because they’ve reached a super-star status.

Plus, £50 mil for a defender with two international caps (both friendlies, before being cut for the 26-man Euro squad this year) feels steep for a club that is reportedly in deep financial trouble.

Bringing this back to Liverpool, and elaborating on the £50 million price tag, it seems unlikely that Edwards & Co. would spend considerably more than he just spent on Ibrahima Konaté for (checks notes) Ben White.