Those at Leeds United may well be glad to know that a Premier League rival has supposedly ‘pulled out of the running’ to sign one of their young full-backs, likely to be Cody Drameh.
Drameh’s future at Elland Road has come under scrutiny in recent months after being allowed to leave on loan under Marcelo Bielsa last winter, where he shone in the Championship.
Meanwhile, in November, the Daily Mail reported that Newcastle United were keen on possibly signing the 20-year-old in the January transfer window, with the same article also noting that the Magpies were keen on West Ham United right-back Harrison Ashby.
It has now been claimed that Eddie Howe’s side are in a prime position to complete a move for the young Iron instead, and so they will no longer be in the race to sign the alternative option from Leeds United.
Indeed, that is according to noted insider ExWHUemployee. While speaking on The West Ham Way podcast, he didn’t specifically name Drameh, but it appears likely he was referring to the youngster.
He said: “They [Newcastle] were chasing another right-back from Leeds. It appears that they’ve pulled out of the running to sign him now.
“So it looks like Ashby will be completing his move to Newcastle.”
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Ironically enough, Leeds were also said to be keen on landing Ashby over the summer and were potentially still holding an interest in a deal going into the winter.
They may have viewed the West Ham right-back as an ideal replacement for Drameh in the event the 20-year-old departed. However, seeing as he could now end up staying in the short-term – with Newcastle set to sign Ashby instead – perhaps the Whites won’t have to worry about a new incoming.
Still, even if the Magpies are out of the race, that doesn’t mean all other teams are. Indeed, in that aforementioned Daily Mail article, Borussia Dortmund were also linked with the Leeds full-back, so he could yet be out the door this winter.