Phil Hay believes that Leeds United making a move for Che Adams is still a possibility following recent reports.
With Patrick Bamford the only striker at Leeds to have started at least six games in the Premier League, many may have assumed that Jesse Marsch would be targeting another centre-forward this summer, but with just a few weeks remaining of the transfer window, no progress has been made.
Che Adams – who made his first appearance of the season for Southampton against Leeds this weekend – has been linked with a move to Elland Road this summer, and Hay hasn’t been able to fully rule a switch out.
Speaking about the links to Adams and a potential move on the latest episode of The Phil Hay Show prior to the trip to St Mary’s, he said: “He’s been linked. It’s not a secret that Leeds like him, or liked him – going back to 2020 when they did Jean-Kevin Augustin, it was Adams who they would have done and thought they were going to do earlier in the month, only for Southampton to about-turn and decide to keep him.
Should Leeds sign Che Adams?
Yes!
No!
“It’s a possibility, and he looks to me like the type of player who, if at the end of the month, Leeds suddenly decided they needed a striker, weren’t quite sure how much they wanted to invest, didn’t want to necessarily block Gelhardt’s pathway with somebody who is a similar sort of age, then Adams falls into the category of players who might fit.
“There seems to be other interest in him, though. Everton [have been] touted as a possible move for him.
“And he was on the bench against Spurs last weekend; it does feel from Southampton’s perspective like he is somebody who, if they get offered the right amount of money, will be allowed to go.
“A good player, I think. Without being an outstanding player, without being the sort of signing that would blow people away, I do quite like Adams.”
TIF Thoughts on links to Che Adams…
Last week saw Marsch’s side rack up 188 pressures off the ball against Wolves, who only managed 96 (FBRef), so it’s no surprise that Adams is being linked considering that he racked up the second-most pressures in the Southampton team last season in the attacking third (as per FBref).
With just two years remaining on his contract and having also been told by Ralph Hasenhuttl that he will be allowed to leave this summer, it’s unlikely that the Saints would ask for a huge fee from Leeds United, which could tempt them into a late move.