Leeds United and Middlesbrough were offered the chance to sign Albert Adomah this summer by his representatives, according to the Birmingham Mail.
The regional newspaper claim the Championship pace setters were approached by Adomah’s camp after he was told by Steve Bruce that he would only get a new contract if he accepted a “significant” pay drop and was free to find a new club.
The Birmingham Mail report Adomah was on the verge of joining Middlesbrough before the window shut last Friday but he wanted a loan-to-buy deal while the north-east club were only willing to sanction a loan move.
OPINION
Credit to Adomah for proving Bruce wrong last season after he was told 12 months ago he was surplus to the requirements. The winger responded with an outstanding campaign in which his goals and creativity did more than anyone to catapult the club back into the Premier League. That Villa ultimately fell short cannot be blamed upon Adomah, who scored 15 goals and supplied seven assists from 44 matches in all competitions. For a player who is not a centre-forward that is an outstanding return, and who could blame the player for seeking an extension to a contract that runs out next summer. Steve Bruce and the Villa hierarchy appear to regard the Ghanaian as a player who has little re-sale value because he turns 31 in December. There is certainly an element of truth to that, but Adomah can still be a force this season despite the late-window captures of Yannick Bolasie and Anwar El-Ghazi. As for Leeds, even Jack Harrison’s near and dearest would probably accept Adomah would be a better bet this season than the young Manchester City loanee.