Leeds United transfer update: ‘Highly valuable’ Tyler Adams could stay if relegated – Ben Jacobs
Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams is unlikely to be the first name out the Elland Road exit door should the club face relegation, according to Ben Jacobs.
The American international has established himself as a pivotal and key performer for the Whites since his move from RB Leipzig last summer, featuring in 24 Premier League games before his unfortunate thigh injury picked up in March.
Adams had been crucial to Leeds United’s season after Jesse Marsch added him as one of his first additions at Elland Road last summer, but given the club’s current position the swashbuckling midfielder is attracting Premier League interest from Arsenal and Newcastle United [Football.London, 4 May].
However, speaking to GiveMeSport [16 May], CBS journalist Jacobs reveals that Leeds United will be reluctant to allow their American “leader” to leave Elland Road despite relegation.
He said: “I would expect any relegation for Leeds to impact [Weston] McKennie a little bit more than Adams because the latter is locked in at Leeds, and I think Adams would perhaps relish the Championship and thrive in the Championship. He’s a leader, he’s a battler and Leeds United won’t want to let him go.
“Obviously, the player perspective and offers will always be a factor in all of this, but I don’t see Adams as being first one out the door or anything like that, quite the opposite. I think that Leeds would see him as highly valuable in the Championship.”
Loyal
Given the sorry position Leeds United find themselves in right now, the interest in Adams’ signature is inevitable given his amazing abilities and potential.
The 24-year-old had swiftly established himself as one of the Whites’ best performers before his injury, already becoming a vocal point and leader to a side possessing plenty of young players.
Before his injury, he recorded the most tackles out of all Premier League players so far this season (89), the second-most tackles won (46) the most dribbles tackled (50) and also recorded the sixth-most blocks of any Premier League player according to FBRef, numbers which evidently rank him as the best-performing midfielder and player at Elland Road.
If there is one player certainly open to a Leeds United stay should they drop down to the Championship then it’s Adams, and Jacobs is right, it will certainly depend on the midfielder as the Whites lose all their cards to keep him because of their potential financial difficulty as a relegated Premier League side.
If there is room to keep him at the club, Leeds United should not hesitate. He is their best hope of an immediate return to the Premier League promised land should the worst happen in the coming months.
In other Leeds news, Radrizzani could now stay put at Elland Road after a £4.16bn update elsewhere.