MOT View: Player likened to TAA bound to be Elland Rd hit as Leeds reportedly close in on deal
Leeds United fans might not know much about Cody Drameh as he reportedly closes in on a move to Elland Road – but there are plenty of reasons to be excited by the Fulham youngster.
Sky Sports have reported that Drameh, 18, is within hours of travelling up to Yorkshire to sign for Leeds in a deal that could be worth up to £1million.
Drameh, who never made a first-team appearance for Fulham but is set for a senior role at Elland Road [Daily Mail], has even followed Leeds United’s official Instagram account, which suggests that he is set to sign for the newly-promoted club at some point this summer.
But, as mentioned, not a lot is known about a player who has been restricted to youth football for all of his career – unless you count the Checkatrade Trophy, in which he played three times last season for Fulham’s Under-23s.
Drameh made 17 appearances in Premier League 2 last season for the London club’s Under-23s side.
In those appearances, he assisted an impressive seven goals – which backs up a previous claim by the Daily Mail that likens Drameh to Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is an assist machine at right-back.
Stats by WyScout only show one of Drameh’s Premier League 2 appearances last season and that was in Fulham’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United – but we will dig into those stats regardless.
Bearing in mind that Man United’s Under-23s finished second in Premier League 2 Division 2 last season, Drameh had one touch inside the penalty area, made two progressive runs and attempted three crosses into the box.
Man United were by far the better team in that game and Drameh’s defensive work was called into question more often than his attacking abilities.
However, the soon-to-be Leeds right-back impressed by completing a huge 11 interceptions and nine recoveries.
Man United would have won by more if it wasn’t for Drameh’s intelligent defensive work that helped cut out so many of their forrays forwards.
In the next three images you can see Drameh (number two) position his body perfectly to pick up a loose pass by one of Man United’s players as they pushed forward with pace.
Drameh has plenty of abilities that suggest to us that he can be a stand-out performer for Leeds United in the future.
He may find it difficult to get into the first-team straight away with Luke Ayling nailed on to be Bielsa’s starting right-back next season.
However, Ayling needs back-up and Drameh could play second-fiddle to the ex-Bristol City man and learn a lot over the next year or two.
He may even get a first-team debut under Bielsa if he does well in training once he arrives.
In other Leeds United news, a top club in Europe is interested in hiring this Leeds senior man.