Leeds United transfer news: Tyler Adams did media duties for Chelsea before transfer collapsed, may not even be injured
Tyler Adams completed media duties as a Chelsea player before his transfer from Leeds United collapsed, according to Simon Phillips.
Writing on his Substack account (12 August), the journalist reported that there is a lot of confusion surrounding why the American midfielder’s £20m move to Stamford Bridge collapsed.
Some reports suggest injuries, but Phillips says he has been told Adams isn’t injured and actually did media for Sky Sports before the deal fell through and the 24-year-old midfielder was sent back to Elland Road.
“Now this one I am not overly clear on. But as said above, I’ve always had the impression from solid sources that he was being pursued really as an alternative to Lavia, even though we might not even get Lavia still,” he wrote.
“There are other versions of this story around, including one from The Daily Mail today suggesting that Chelsea pulled out because medical tests showed he might be out for a further four months injured.
“But then we heard last week from reliable reports that he wasn’t even injured. So this one has me completely miffed and to be honest, leaves me not being able to report anything solid on it.
“The only thing I do know as a fact is that Adams was doing Chelsea media earlier this week for Sky Sports! And also, that Brighton are interested in signing him.
“So that too could also be a genuine reason as to why Chelsea pulled on it, and to be honest, is probably the most likely.”
Crazy
Players doing media duties for clubs before a deal is totally signed off isn’t that abnormal, as Leeds fans will remember from Daniel James.
But reporting that Adams isn’t actually injured anymore and this is a big conspiracy as he doesn’t want to play for Leeds will surely not go down well at all.
The USMNT captain is one of the few players who have maintained their reputation with the fans after relegation last season, and many are under the impression that he has been very professional about a potential transfer away this summer.
But if this is in fact true and Adams is simply just not playing for the club despite being fit, then hopefully he moves on as soon as possible because we don’t need or want players like that at this club.
Obviously it’s hearsay right now, and Daniel Farke says he is injured until September too, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye on.
In other Leeds news, another Whites star doesn’t travel for Birmingham clash after Gnonto refusal.