Leeds United transfer update: ‘Stunning development’ verdict on potential Cody Drameh stay amid late tug of war
Graham Smyth believes it would be a “stunning development” at this point if Cody Drameh stayed at Leeds United after being denied first-team opportunites.
The 21-year-old has reached the Championship play-off final on loan at Luton and Hatters are pushing to sign him as a result, according to Fabrizio Romano [via Twitter, 17 May], who reported the Whites are “trying hardest” to keep the right-back still.
But after being snubbed in favour of struggling pair Luke Ayling and Rasmus Kristensen this season Smyth believes that ship has already sailed.
In answer to a question in his Yorkshire Evening Post Q & A Smyth said: “Cody Drameh staying would be a stunning development. His camp have already made it clear he’s off, because there simply hasn’t been a pathway for him to senior football at Leeds, despite persistent talk of one.
“It never materialised. Luke Ayling and Rasmus Kristensen were blocking his path before he went out for another successful loan and you have to ask if Leeds are better off because of it.”
To a similar query on how likely the youngster was to stay he answered: “Not very, I would say. His camp have already suggested he will be off in the summer.
“There was talk of a permanent exit previously, then slight glimmers of hope for a chance in the first team, but when it became clear that he was still behind Ayling and Kristensen then that all-but sealed the deal in my opinion.”
Fool him once
Leeds United caused all the problems themselves when it comes to Drameh, and short of something written into his contract it is hard to see him accepting the word of the club on his future prospects.
He is clearly ambitious and has held up his side of the bargain after twice pushing for first-team football out on loan, but has so far been let down by the Whites.
Winning Cardiff’s player of the season award on loan in half a season at the club [Wales Online, 1 May 2022] was about as much as could have possibly been expected of him last season.
But the £10million signing of Kristensen and a contract extension for Ayling in the summer showed the brains trust back at Elland Road were ambivalent.
Three senior Leeds United appearances – one in the Premier League – followed in the first half of the campaign, despite endless positive words from Jesse Marsch and ongoing struggles for both his senior rivals.
If Drameh makes it to the Premier League with another club after once again proving a success on loan, not least at a time when the Whites are struggling not to fall out of it, then it would be no surprise at all for him to ignore the overtures from his parent club and look elsewhere rather than falling for the same trick he did 12 months ago.
With a year left on his contract it would be now or never to get a fee, and with mooted interest from elsewhere in the Premier League and Europe he shouldn’t be short of bidders.
In other Leeds United news, a £20million-plus move and an Elland Road exit for one first-team player has been scoffed at by a transfer journalist.