Tyler Adams is a name Leeds United fans have been getting to grips with this summer amid a number of links to Elland Road. The RB Leipzig midfielder has been regularly mentioned regarding a move to Leeds and it comes with Kalvin Phillips’ future at the club up in the air.
Phillips features highly on Man City’s shopping list this summer and while the move to the Etihad Stadium is still a possibility, the speculation around Adams is only going to continue. The Whites have already signed one midfielder this summer, bagging Marc Roca from Bayern Munich, but the departure of Phillips would force them into the market once more and arguably it would make sense to go for someone Jesse Marsch knows well.
Marsch spent half a season in charge at the Red Bull Arena last season, taking the reins from Julian Nagelsmann and helping the club to fifth in the Bundesliga before three straight losses brought about his departure. Adams was a key man in his midfield at Leipzig, operating in a defensive midfield role, alongside the likes of Kevin Kampl, Konrad Laimer or Amadou Haidara.
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However, the relationship between the pair goes back beyond last season with Marsch first encountering the 23-year-old during his time in charge at New York Red Bulls. Marsch was the man that gave Adams his debut back in 2015 in a friendly against Chelsea, when he was just 16-year-old.
The New York-born midfielder scored in that game and it helped him to nail down a regular spot in Marsch’s plans moving forward. Such was Adams’ impact in the MLS, Marsch facilitated his move to German top flight after agreeing to work under Ralf Rangnick at Leipzig, and the USA international hasn’t looked back.
“The ceiling is massive for him, everyone can see that,” Marsch said about Adams after his impressive start to life in Leipzig. “I obviously played a part in Tyler, and the relationship with the club, and the eventual move to come here. I knew he’d do well.”
He continued: “I think he’s exceeded my expectations, our expectations. There’s been some talk, like I’ve done so much to help Tyler, adapt and do well here. I don’t think it’s hurt, but Tyler is the reason Tyler has been successful.
“He’s a special person, he’s a special personality, he’s a special talent and the ceiling for him is massive. Massive here in Leipzig and in the Bundesliga and beyond. So I’m proud to be connected with him and to have played a role in his development and I can’t wait to see where he goes from here.”
It seems the feeling between the pair is mutual, too, with Adams taking the opportunity to praise Marsch’s coaching style and technique in an interview with ESPN shortly after he took over from Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road.
“I think as an American you have to earn your respect wherever you go,” he said. “When you go to Leeds and you come after a name like Bielsa, it’s obviously a big name, it’s not going to be easy.
“For me, I’m just really grateful for Jesse giving me the opportunity to become a professional, he groomed me and gave me my first opportunities to play the professional game. He’s very heart-to-heart with you, he’s up front and honest with you and I think he’ll do well there.
“When you can have a good connection with your players they want to battle and fight for you on the field every weekends, so being able to sit down and talk to them, whether it’s about football or life, that connection is important.”
Whether Adams will link up with Marsch at a third club is yet to be seen, but the American coach certainly knows more than most about the 23-year-old.
