Ateef Konate told best move after Nottingham Forest exit as Leeds United, Sunderland chase deal
Carlton Palmer believes Leeds United would not be Ateef Konate’s best next move and has named Derby County as the “ideal place” for the Frenchman.
The pundit told Football League World (1 June) that the 23-year-old, who is leaving Nottingham Forest without making a Premier League appearance when his contract expires at the end of the month, needs to be sure he will get the chance to play at his next club.
Africa Foot reported on 30 May that Konate is wanted by a number of EFL sides, and with Palmer expecting Daniel Farke’s side to be pushing for promotion again next term he thinks Pride Park makes most sense for the impending free agent.
Palmer said: “Ateef Konate, the 23-year-old Nottingham Forest midfield player has taken to social media to tell the supporters and staff thank you as he intends to move on from Nottingham Forest next season.
“It’s not been the greatest move for Ateef. Since joining Forest, he’s failed to make a single appearance in the Premier League.
“The likes of Huddersfield, Sunderland, Derby and Leeds are all looking at Ateef, he’s going to be available on a free transfer, and he excelled at Le Havre before going to Nottingham Forest, so he needs to get his career back on track. He needs to be playing football. It’s looking at a club where he’s going to be given the opportunity to play football.
“Derby are having a complete re-shuffle with their playing squad. We’ve seen how Sunderland are with young players, but they’re yet to have a manager in place. Leeds United will be pushing for promotion next season, and they’re in need of a front player.
“Where would he fit in? I think Derby might be the ideal place for Ateef, it’s just down the road from Nottingham and Paul Warne works with young players and knows how to get the best out of them, so I think that would be a good move for him.”
Derby option preferred to Leeds United move?
Failure to gain promotion back to the Premier League means Daniel Farke will likely lose a number of first-team players during the transfer window.
And with the club on the hook for almost £190million in transfer fees this summer for deals done in previous windows [The Sun, 28 May] it isn’t hard to see why a free agent signing might appeal, with Sheffield United’s exit-bound Daniel Jebbison also wanted [HITC, 31 May].
The attacking midfield area which Konate can operate in was one which arguably didn’t have a natural fit in the Whites squad last season, with Joel Piroe awkwardly used there for some time until Georginio Rutter dropped back from striker once Patrick Bamford came into the side.
But with a single substitute appearance in the Championship for Forest a five in League One at Oxford the sought-after Frenchman is still unproven, so Farke may not be able to guarantee him game time.
If the German expects to emulate the better parts of his debut season at Elland Road and surpass the poor finish by returning to the Premier League he may need to replace stars such as Rutter and Crysencio Summerville with more high profile options than Konate.
But what Leeds United will be able to afford this summer is a key question when costs have to be cut for an extended stay in the second tier.
In other Leeds United news, an international has cut off his agent after his Elland Road future was left unresolved.
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