By George Overhill

27th Mar, 2023 | 7:10am

Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams top Moneyball data analytics option for AC Milan to fill hole left by Franck Kessie

Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams is the top option for AC Milan to fill the gap left by Franck Kessié according to “Moneyball” data analytics, Gazzetta dello Sport reports.

The Ivorian international left for Barcelona in the summer after 223 appearances for the Rossoneri, and given that Milan chief Gerry Cardinale is a strong proponent of data-driven recruitment in sister-club Toulouse the same model could soon be used to identify potential deals in Milan.

USMNT captain Adams is the top name on that list based on the AI algorithms of Driblab, Stats Perform and Wallabies computers, based on his pressing and the fact that he recovers possession as his “daily mission”.

The summer signing from RB Leipzig is currently out with a hamstring injury, but when fit he has started every Premier League game for the Whites this season and never once been substituted in 24 league outings.

The only time he has come off in a Leeds United shirt was for disciplinary reasons, thanks to his red card in the dying minutes of the 4-3 defeat at Tottenham before the World Cup on 12 November.

Recruitment success

For £20million Adams was arguably the top signing of the season for the first few months, at least prior to Willy Gnonto cracking the first team and the January arrival of Max Wober.

He has outshined fellow midfield arrival Marc Roca and even if he has room for improvement in terms of shielding the back four he has been a welcome addition to the squad.

The injury has come at bad time for Javi Gracia who is currently looking to plot the club’s escape from relegation danger, and has barely used the other man that the Moneyball approach tipped as as a key target if Cardinale implements the model at San Siro as well, with Luis Sinisterra named as a Rafael Leao replacement in the first part of the same study.

Elland Road and international teammate Weston McKennie is the man who is currently generating the transfer links back to Italy after his loan move from Juventus in January.

The deal is due to be made permanent as soon as top flight safety is secured but based on a verbal agreement not a contractual one, meaning the likes of Roma continue to be linked [GIVEMESPORT, 24 March].

With a reported plot to re-sign Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City in the summer [Daily Star, 25 March] there could be a formidable midfield stable at Elland Road next season, so if a summer market were to develop for Adams it would undercut that.

In other Leeds United news, discussions have already begun between a Whites ace’s agents and a club over a summer exit.

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