Leeds United leave Dan James in limbo as deadline approaches, Fulham medical passed
Dan James has passed his medical ahead of the proposed loan move to Fulham but Leeds United have still not given the go ahead, James Olley reports.
The Welsh winger was set to exit at the same time as Senegal international forward Bamba Dieng arrived from Marseille, but a shock twist before the player boarded a plane to the UK to complete his move saw the deal collapse and him sign for Nice instead.
In the meantime James has continued through the process of completing his move to the capital and is now waiting or his parent club to allow the deal to be done, but as the minutes tick down towards the deadline they still are yet to do so.
ESPN reporter Olley wrote on his personal Twitter account on Thursday night (1 September): "Dan James has passed his medical at Fulham ahead of a proposed season-long loan. But the deal is still waiting for a green light from Leeds."
Confusion
It seemed odd that the club were apparently willing to let a winger leave to bring in a striker in the first place, let alone on loan and therefore not for a fee.
The wage bill would presumably be eased slightly but unless somebody actually comes in to take that space the only real benefit will be to the bottom line.
Once the Dieng deal collapsed in dramatic fashion there were understandable questions as to whether that also meant James was staying.
But the fact the hierarchy at Elland Road have let him continue to the point where they only have to give the all clear and it will be done suggests they do believe they will be signing someone in the last couple of hours.
It is incredible that it has reached this point but it is now starting to resemble James' own failed move to West Yorkshire under Marcelo Bielsa, where he was again in the building and had completed his medical but Swansea didn't let it go through.
Just a year after signing him for £25million from Manchester United, and just a few hours after the deadline day deals looked to have been sewn up, it will have left plenty of fans bewildered as to how we have ended up here.