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Leeds United nailed it with this transfer development – View
Leeds United were handed a major blow when Tyler Adams forced his way into a Bournemouth transfer for £23million by threatening legal action on the club, but he’s yet to play a league game this season.
A lot was made of the manner in which Leeds’ first team players looked to jump ship in the summer window after being one of the core reasons for relegation.
Two players headed to Bournemouth, not both are permanent at the Vitality after Luis Sinisterra penned a long-term deal.
When the first Championship game rolled around at the start of August, it looked as though Tyler Adams was still somewhat committed to the cause at Elland Road.
He was with other injured players pitchside at full-time, sharing some of his midfield experience with Archie Gray after his impressive senior debut at Leeds.
Not long after, the USMNT man was gone for Bournemouth in a £23million move, having seen his hamstring troubles scupper a Chelsea move at the medical stage.
Like the Colombian who soon joined him at Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth side, Adams threatened Leeds with legal action to get his way with another Premier League move.
Leeds did very well to replace Adams directly, signing Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea on a long-term deal for just £7million – a signing that looked a bargain on face value, and looks more and more of an absurd steal every time he plays a game.
With £17million spare, Leeds won’t be bothered at all that they cashed in on Adams largely against their own will, especially given his fortunes on the South Coast since.
Chelsea were right to have swerved the midfielder for this season, because Adams’ injury issues didn’t seem to recover until the autumn with an EFL Cup outing off the bench against Stoke City.
However, that was soon met with more hamstring issues, which have ruled him out since, meaning he’s yet to make his league debut in Cherries colours.
Meanwhile, Ampadu has done the job of Adams and a whole lot more, proving to be just as good a midfield destroyer, while demonstrating elegance in possession, and has become an imperious centre-back of late, just for good measure.
Adams may come good at Bournemouth, but the £23million Leeds banked is likely the best they could have hoped for with him in the summer, rather than keeping a crocked midfielder and therefore not allowing someone of Ampadu’s quality to shine – and that’s before even looking at how good Ilia Gruev has been too.
