Cody Drameh wants to leave Leeds United amid transfer interest from Burnley and possible Sam Byram signing
Cody Drameh is looking to leave Leeds United this summer amid a long list of first-team players who are currently seeking exits, according to Last Word on Sports.
The youngster has been noted as cutting a “frustrated figure” in the past year [Leeds Live, 19 June] after struggling for opportunities in the Whites first team.
The right-back, 21, left Elland Road on loan in January for the second campaign running, adding a Championship promotion with Luton Town to his CV, having picked up the player of the year award in his half-season with Cardiff a year earlier.
Despite the loan exit of teammate Rasmus Kristensen to Roma potentially leaving the starting role open to him at Leeds United Drameh is reportedly part of an eight-strong group of Whites players who are “actively” pushing to leave.
Last Word on Sports reports: “Last Word on Football understands from trusted sources that as many as eight Leeds United senior squad members are actively looking for a move away from the club, in addition to having received and rejected bids for Wilfried Gnonto and Charlie Cresswell…
“Leeds United transfer news could be hotting up as a result of a swathe of players striving for an exit. Those listed by our source include Wilfried Gnonto, Max Wober, Crysencio Summerville, Jack Harrison, Illan Meslier, Cody Drameh, Pascal Struijk and Charlie Cresswell.”
Drameh has been the subject of multiple transfer links in recent months, with promoted Burnley still interested despite extensive spending already this summer [The Athletic, 4 July].
Worry?
While the outlet notes that Tyler Adams’ and Luis Sinisterra’s names are conspicuous by their absence from the list of agitators it would nevertheless be a significant blow to Daniel Farke’s ideas for the new season if all of those names were to leave.
Whether it is a matter of them all having been open to a move at some point during this window, or the host of potentially key men actually pushing to leave right now will presumably become clear in the next few weeks.
The delay to the takeover and the announcement of the manager would have made the former no great surprise earlier this summer, but with those questions now answered, and incoming signings finally on the cards, it would appear that things are looking up at last in West Yorkshire.
Drameh would probably be one of the least surprising potential exits if he is trying to get out, as he has been forced to go elsewhere for game time in each of the past two campaigns, and proven himself a valuable Championship performer if nothing else.
Given the struggles of Kristensen and Luke Ayling last term he surely deserves a shot at showing his second-tier experience with the Whites now, but if he wants the Premier League, having reached it with Luton just as his parent club dropped out, he likely has the Burnley option at least.
Suggestions that former Farke charge from his Norwich days, full-back Sam Byram, is set to be signed as a free agent may set alarm bells ringing for Drameh that his opportunity is set to be snatched away again.
If the manager sees Drameh as the starter then he will likely need to convince the young Whites man of that better than Jesse Marsch last season, after extensive positive words didn’t translate into first-team chances.
In other Leeds United news, contract talks have been hijacked as a “big-money” bid has crashed onto the table right in the middle of them.