Leeds United set for second Daniel Farke signing after Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea with Sam Byram free transfer
Leeds United are about to tie up a deal for their first new arrival under Daniel Farke and already have their second ready to join him, according to 90min.
Ethan Ampadu is bound for Elland Road once he has passed a medical after a deal was reached with Chelsea worth £7million plus add-ons.
And after bringing in former Whites youth product Sam Byram to train with the squad [Leeds Live, 15 July] the club are set to “reunite” the 29-year-old with his former Norwich boss Farke on a free transfer.
The Daily Mail had reported on Monday (17 July) that a contract could be on the way for ex-West Ham and Nottingham Forest defender since he was at Thorp Arch, and it now appears that it will.
According to 90min later that night, referring to the Ampadu move: “A permanent £7m move is now in the offing, ending a Chelsea career that has offered up just one Premier League appearance.
“Leeds are also set to reunite new manager Daniel Farke with versatile full-back Sam Byram, who is available on a free transfer following the expiry of his Norwich contract.”
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The summer transfer business was put on hold until the manager was belatedly announced just in time for the start of preseason training on 4 July, and until now it was only outgoings that had been tied up.
But finally Farke is getting the chance to add his own people to a playing squad that badly underperformed last season but could be formidable in the Championship with the right augmentations.
Ampadu makes sense as a midfielder and a potential centre-back, and it looks like versatility is the order of the day with Byram capable of playing at both full-back spots and wide on the right of midfield.
If he signs an Elland Road deal imminently it remains to be seen what Cody Drameh might think, just as the path had finally been cleared by Rasmus Kristensen’s loan exit to Roma.
Byram may be viewed as cover for various positions which might leave the youngster in line to start, while the former Canary’s familiarity with both Leeds United and Farke make the reunion somewhat more obvious if it is now to be made official.
Stuart Dallas has been out for over a year and used to be the man to plug whatever gap had sprung open in the line-up, but the Northern-Irishman is coming back from a major broken leg so adaptable cover from many sources might be necessary.
It looks like the incoming activity has now exploded into life but there are still plenty of questions to find answers to before the new season kicks off.
In other Leeds United news, there are multiple further moves in the pipeline following the deal to bring Ampadu from Stamford Bridge.