Leeds United were right to sell Tyler Adams as Bournemouth ace suffers fresh injury
Throughout the summer transfer window, Leeds United were raided by top-flight clubs who were looking to acquire some of their brightest talent.
The Whites’ hands were mostly tied after a majority of the players who had been part of the squad relegated to the Championship had relegation release clauses written into their contracts which allowed them to depart Elland Road for set fees or on loans for cut-prices.
One player to depart Daniel Farke’s side courtesy of a release clause was American international Tyler Adams, who joined Bournemouth in a deal worth roughly £23million plus add-ons [The Athletic, 20 August], but that sale looks to have been a wise call.
According to Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, the midfielder could be out for some time, as he was quoted by The Athletic (1 October) saying: “I don’t know what to call it, a setback, but he is not feeling well, he has been out for a lot of time, so we have to reassess, to reset, to take the good decisions, thinking in everything.
“It is true that he is going to be out for some time, for sure. I think it’s the same area. I couldn’t tell you if it’s exactly the same point, but it’s true that it’s his hamstring that he is not feeling well.”
While the Whites were unhappy to lose Adams for a smaller fee than initially anticipated, they may well have done well to receive as a big fee as they ultimately did, given Adams’ poor injury record in recent months, as he would have been little use to Farke and his side.
Had the midfielder remained at Elland Road until the January transfer window, his value would have likely decreased if he had suffered these injury setbacks for Leeds United and that would have ultimately represented a wasted opportunity for the Whites.
Farke’s midfield has been well stocked utilising the money raised through the sale of the USMNT midfielder, as the Whites signed both Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev for less than half of the fee they received for Adams to play alongside Ethan Ampadu and Archie Gray.
Leeds United’s defeat to Southampton on Saturday (30 September) would have put a slight dent into the good feeling currently at Elland Road, but the Whites have impressed across the entirety of the pitch and especially in midfield so far this season, to a degree that very few fans at Elland Road will be missing the presence of Adams.
It seems that Leeds got this sale right.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay has slammed the Whites defence for their performance against Southampton