This week, Graham Smyth of the Yorkshire Evening Post reported that Leeds United are considering bringing in Cheikhou Kouyaté to strengthen their midfield after injuries to Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev.
Kouyaté has been a free agent since this summer, following his release from Nottingham Forest after a two-year spell where he made 36 appearances. Last season, the 92-cap Senegal international started just two matches and came off the bench 10 times, totaling 208 minutes as Forest successfully avoided relegation.
With 291 Premier League appearances from his time at West Ham, Crystal Palace, and Nottingham Forest, the 34-year-old would add a wealth of experience to the Leeds group. He’s also had success abroad, winning four league titles in Belgium and an Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.
Pundit advises Leeds not to pursue Cheikhou Kouyaté
However, according to Leeds Live, there’s no deal in place for Kouyaté yet, and discussions are not advanced. Leeds are likely evaluating his fitness carefully, as he hasn’t played more than 1,000 league minutes since the 2021-22 season.
Amid the rumors, former Leeds midfielder Carlton Palmer has suggested they hold off on signing the 34-year-old, advising they wait until January to bring in a replacement.
“[Kouyate] is still without a club, and it worries me when a player has been released from a football club in the summer and has not been picked up, it is a problem,” Palmer told Football League World.
“It might work out in a limited period, but Daniel Farke and I both have the same feelings about this, and he expressed his reservations about Leeds signing free agents at this stage of the season.
“I think what Leeds have got to go is trying to get through this present moment, hopefully, get one or two players back or get to the January transfer window and move to bring some quality players in.
“I don’t think Kouyate is going to come in at 34 years old and make a big impression at Leeds…”
Ampadu will be out for the rest of 2024 after suffering an injury to his lateral collateral ligament (LCL) rather than the more serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). As for Gruev, the midfielder will miss months rather than weeks and undergo surgery on his meniscus after sustaining his knee injury.
Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell provide some midfield experience, but the options behind them are either makeshift or unproven, so it will be interesting to see if Leeds decides to sign Kouyaté.
