Aidan White has turned down Leeds United’s initial offer of a new contract.The 20-year-old prospect is understood to have rejected a proposal put to him by the Elland Road club last month.Leeds made their approach to White with his current contract into its final year, and the club are keen to reach a deal with a player whose reputation has grown rapidly this season.White has come to the fore in United’s first team after two bit-part terms at Elland Road, and he earned his first under-21 cap with the Republic of Ireland in September.The four-year deal he signed in 2008 is set to expire next summer, however, and United recently moved to begin negotiations over improved terms.White is under the age of 24, meaning Leeds would be entitled to compensation were he to leave Elland Road for a rival English team next year, but United are reluctant to lose the services of one of their more successful academy products.White, too, is believed to favour the option of extending his deal with the Championship side but he is awaiting a second approach after refusing Leeds’ first offer.
The youngster made his 19th appearance of the season against Millwall on Saturday, taking up a position on the wing after a sequence of outings at left-back, and he has gradually established himself as a member of Simon Grayson’s starting line-up.
White emerged without warning or fanfare from United’s academy in August 2008 – then Leeds manager Gary McAllister predicted at the time that the teenager had a “great future ahead of him” – but it has taken him until this season to find regular favour under Grayson.
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