United boss Steven Pressley today confirmed that initial talks have been held with Gateshead’s player-of-the-season Tom White about a possible return to Brunton park for the potential play maker.
Midfielder White, 22, came through the club’s academy but joined the Heed as a teenager when he was released at the end of his scholarship period by the Blues.
He came to the fore last season with three goals in 44 appearances at the International Stadium and has indicated that the he has ‘unfinished business’ in this week’s talks with the Carlisle boss.
“We spoke to Tom on Tuesday,” Pressley confirmed. “He’s a player that interests us. There’s a situation where there’s compensation needed for him, and that has to be agreed along with certain other aspects of the deal.
“It’s David [Holdsworth] who deals with the financial side of these things, but it never gets that far until I’ve spoken to the player. I obviously analyse his football ability, but I also want to get a feel for who the player is as a person as well.
“I want to know what his needs and ambitions are before we go to the next phase. If there’s no connection between me and the player then I won’t bring him in. It’s pleasing to say that I got a good feeling from Tom, and that’s a big box ticked.”
On the timescale of any potential announcement, he told us: “Tom is someone we hope will be through the door pretty quickly.
“I’d love to have him in the building tomorrow, but if that doesn’t happen it’s just because there are a couple of obstacles to get over. Our hope is that we will get over those hurdles and, if we do, he’s a player we’re excited about.
“He was Gateshead’s player-of-the-season last year, he’s 22, he’s hungry and he’s desperate to do well. He’s another who said he felt he had unfinished business at this club and that excites me.
“For what we want in our dressing room he’s another who fits the profile, but we still have things to discuss and sort out before we can get to the stage where we can say he’s coming into our club.”
“It’s a waiting game on a number of other players and positions at the moment,” he added. “Nothing is imminent apart from Tom, but that could change very quickly.
“In terms of permanent deals, Tom is the only one we’re close to at this moment in time. I want to be patient, I don’t want to rush out because we already have players who we have agreements in principle with that I’m really keen on, and who I think really fit the club.
“Unfortunately that takes a bit longer than we all want it to, but I think it will be worth the wait.”
