Liverpool are being linked once again with a move for Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back Ben White, with the Reds seemingly likely to move for the 23-year-old in the summer transfer window.

What's the word?

According to the Liverpool Echo, Jurgen Klopp's side are scouting the centre-back ahead of a potential summer move and have kept a close eye on him since his loan spell with Leeds United last season.

Despite the current defensive injury crisis, the report suggests that Liverpool were keen to see how White performs in his first full season in the Premier League, before weighing up a move ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

Bye-bye Matip?

If White were to arrive in the summer, then he would presumably compete with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip for a starting spot in Jurgen Klopp's side, once they return from their respective injuries.

This could be bad news for the Cameroonian centre-back as, despite his impressive performances at times with the Merseyside club, he has proven himself to be extremely unreliable with injuries since joining the Reds.

This season in particular, the former Schalke man has suffered injury setbacks at a time where Klopp was relying on him to stay fit, which may well cast doubt over his long-term future with the club.

White has proven himself to be reliable, as he played every single minute of Leeds' promotion-winning campaign last season, and has started all but one of Brighton's games in the Premier League so far this season.

The young defender has earned a lot of plaudits for his performances in recent seasons, with former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Carragher full of praise for the Brighton ace, saying:

"I have got to mention Ben White, there is a centre-back there who is going to go right to the top.

"He is so comfortable on the ball, you can see why Leeds wanted to keep him.

"That young man is destined for an amazing future, he's comfortable on the ball, brilliant defensively and I love him."

Therefore, considering White has averaged a solid 6.61 rating for his performances in the top-flight so far this season, despite Brighton's poor start, it seems clear that he has proven he can perform in the top-flight, and therefore it wouldn't be a surprise to see Michael Edwards make his move for the 23-year-old during the summer.

He is also more versatile than Matip, having featured across the defence and in defensive-midfield at times in his career, which is surely something that is desirable to Klopp, considering how he has relied on Fabinho's versatility so much this season.

However, he won't come cheap, with a report suggesting that the Seagulls would demand £50 million for his services, but if Edwards can work his magic and negotiate a lower price that would see him join Klopp's side, then you do worry that his arrival could lead to Matip's departure, as unfortunately, he has shown that he cannot be relied upon.

And, in other news... Klopp can unearth his next VVD in academy "big talent" ...