Leeds United transfer news emerges as Darko Gyabi was free to depart Elland Road
Leeds United had allowed Darko Gyabi to depart Elland Road on deadline day, having bolstered their midfield options, according to Phil Hay.
Speaking on the Square Ball Podcast on Monday (4 September, 10:10), Hay revealed that the Whites were happy to allow the 19-year-old midfielder to leave in the final hours of the transfer window, had he been able to complete any of the approaches that were made for him.
Daniel Farke had signed Iliav Gruev and Glen Kamara in the final days of the transfer window and it appeared as though Gyabi was set for the exit door, having been the subject of a £5m bid from Valenciennes and a loan offer from Swansea City [Hay, 1 September].
Neither deal was ultimately completed with Hay saying: “If [Archie] Gray needs a rest, you do have Kamara, you do have Gruev, you do have ways of mixing this up.
“To the extent that there was so much choice in the centre of midfield that they would have let Gyabi go on deadline day, had he been able to sort out any of the approaches that were made for him.”
Strength in depth
At the start of the campaign, there was a reliance on Gray to play every week and perform in the middle of the park, with Gyabi instead rooted to the bench, only making one cameo appearance from the bench against Ipswich Town, where he made four touches, being dispossessed once (Fotmob).
He didn’t seem to be in Farke’s plans when his options were incredibly limited early in the season and it has only become more unlikely that he will earn regular minutes now he has to compete with Kamara and Gruev as well as those already established at Elland Road.
The proposals afforded to the former Manchester City academy product seemed like good opportunities, with a temporary switch to Swansea offering him the chance to develop in the Championship or a permanent switch to Valenciennes allowing him to earn consistent minutes in Ligue 2.
There is always a chance, as shown already under Farke, that Gyabi can force his way back into contention at Leeds United and maybe he genuinely believes fighting for his place in Yorkshire is the best move for his development.
But if he still isn’t playing regular football come the January transfer window, you wouldn’t be surprised to see him being allowed to leave Elland Road once again.
In other Leeds United news, Farke has said Jaidon Anthony is desperate to be a success at Elland Road this season