Liam Cooper may be forced out of Leeds United in January as £3.4m+ Nathaniel Adjei transfer update emerges
Leeds United could well be planning for life after senior Elland Road stalwart Liam Cooper with versatile Hammarby defender Nathaniel Adjei a target in January.
Swedish news outlet FotbollDirekt, provided an update on Adjei’s future on Tuesday (7 November), with Championship rivals Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Preston North End also said to be in for his signature.
Scottish Premiership heavyweights Celtic and Rangers have also been credited with an interest in the 21-year-old, who is predominantly a centre-back but can also play at right-back.
It is believed that Hammarby are looking for at least £3.4million (€4m) for Adjei, on top of a sell-on clause of around 15-20% as the talented 21-year-old defender is clearly a man in demand ahead of the winter window.
The Whites will certainly have to get a move on if they are to firm up their interest in the Ghanaian centre-back and his progress at Hammarby is there for all to see.
Adjei has featured in 20 of their 29 Allsvenskan Swedish league games, winning a whopping 63% of his aerial duels, 66% of his ground duels, 64% of his total duels, averaging 1.1 tackles per game and only being dribbled past 0.2 times per game [SofaScore].
The Ghana Under-23 international is also under contract with Hammarby until 2026, so it may take a relative offer for Leeds to prize him away from Sweden but it’s clear the Whites are planning for the inevitable departure of Cooper.
The Elland Road veteran has also endured a bit-part role back at his club so far this season with Tottenham loanee Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk Daniel Farke’s preferred pairing at centre-back, starting just three Championship games.
The 32-year-old was close to leaving Elland Road during the summer after plenty of interest from the Saudi Pro League, a situation where many would have expected him to call time on his nine-year career in West Yorkshire.
The Athletic journalist Phil Hay reported on 17 October that Cooper had a £4million contract offer on the table from Saudi Arabia over the summer.
A £40,000-a-week contract for two years, tax-free was ready to go from Al-Qadisah, currently managed by Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler.
The interest and contract offer never made it to the stage of a formal bid to Leeds themselves, and the skipper remained at Elland Road, rather than forcing a way out.
However, that could well change in January and his role could further diminish should Leeds United sure up their interest in a younger and fresher defensive upgrade.
While that may not directly lead to Cooper calling it quits in January, it is certainly an indirect ploy to suggest that the 32-year-old may no longer be at the forefront of Farke’s immediate plans, which could certainly force him into an exit decision, especially if Saudi clubs return to the table.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites could miss out on an eight-figure payment following a report that emerged on Wednesday (8 November).