Fellow Premier League clubs West Ham and Crystal Palace have expressed an interest in signing Leeds United’s young right-back Cody Drameh, according to TeamTalk journalist Graeme Bailey.
This brings the number of clubs reportedly keeping tabs on the youngster to seven, with interest from Newcastle United, Middlesbrough, Norwich, Dortmund and RB Leipzig having been previously reported.
Since signing for the Whites from Fulham in 2020, Drameh has struggled to break into the squad at Elland Road. As things stand, Drameh currently sits third-choice in his favoured position, behind regular starter Rasmus Kristensen and his back-up Luke Ayling.
The youngster has only had made two starting appearances for Leeds’ senior squad this season, in a 3-1 victory over Barnsley in the EFL Cup and a 5-2 defeat at Brentford. Since featuring in the starting XI who found themselves humiliated in London, Drameh hasn’t been part of Marsch’s match-day squad for any fixture.
Drameh has been open about his lack of playing opportunities at the Yorkshire club in the past, a situation which resulted in the Whites loaning him to Championship side Cardiff City last January under the watch of previous head coach Marcelo Bielsa.
He enjoyed a fruitful period of football when in Wales, making 22 appearances, notching three assists and winning the Player of the Year award for the Bluebirds.
In the TeamTalk article, Bailey said: “Newcastle, West Ham and Crystal Palace see him as one for the future. Middlesbrough and Norwich I am told, also like him. He does have options abroad – I am told they are plentiful. Dortmund and Leipzig and clubs in France and Italy.”
A major loss on the cards
Given the massive amount of interest Drameh is garnering both home and abroad, it is difficult to view him as anything but a top talent with great promise for the future.
It is also hard, unfortunately, to see him opting to remain at Leeds in January if Marsch’s pecking order at right-back – Kristensen, Ayling, and then Drameh – remains as it is. Considering his age at just twenty years old, it is only through gaining match experience at a senior level, as opposed to playing for the Under-21s or featuring on the bench for the first-team, that Drameh will develop as a footballer.
As the other interested Premier League clubs view him as “one for the future” in Bailey’s words, it is unlikely he would get regular minutes there either, especially at teams like Newcastle where England international Kieran Trippier has made the right-back position his own. His best option for receiving game time would undoubtedly be joining either a Championship club or going abroad.
Perhaps a loan deal would benefit both Drameh and Leeds the most, as with Ayling nearing the end of his contract there exists the possibility that the English youngster will adopt Ayling’s role in the squad sometime soon.
One thing is certain, however. The Whites do not want to rue losing such a promising young player and should do their utmost to keep him.
