Transfer deadline day is fast approaching and Leeds United are still on the lookout for a forward. Jesse Marsch confirmed the club are still searching for the right man to add to their attacking ranks and the Whites will have until Thursday night to complete any business.
However, it seems players could leave the club over the coming days, too. Marsch hinted at a potential loan move for Cody Drameh during his press conference on Thursday, with the right-back deemed to be down the pecking order at Elland Road at present.
But, he isn’t the only youngster that may need to leave the club on loan over the coming days to get game time. The club have loaned out six players already this summer and that number could grow.
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Here’s a few who would benefit from first-team action elsewhere.
Cody Drameh
Drameh made his first appearance of the season on Wednesday night as he was named at right-back against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup. He looked the part, too, holding his own and showing he is more than capable of taking on that role should Marsch look his way.
However, he finds himself down the pecking order when it comes to the club’s Premier League XI, with Rasmus Kristensen being the number one option there for the time being. Drameh is expected to move even further back when vice-captain Luke Ayling returns to action, too.
The 20-year-old left Elland Road and excelled during his loan at Cardiff City last season, winning the club’s player of the season award, despite playing just 22 games. As such, he may be keen to continue his progression by getting more regular game time in the Championship under his belt.
Ian Poveda
It is thought the club would be willing to listen to permanent or loan offers for Poveda, who is not part of Marsch’s immediate plans. The 22-year-old was left out of the Whites’ trip to Australia in pre-season and he hasn’t been given a squad number for the campaign as Leeds look to move him on.
There has been interest in Poveda from abroad this summer and it seems a loan move could be an option. The winger spent time with Blackburn Rovers last season and managed to find the back of the net once in the 10 appearances he made.
However, a fractured ankle ensured his game time at Ewood Park was severely limited. Marsch has spoken highly about his attitude and progress when asked about him over pre-season, but he hasn’t been able to secure a future for himself in West Yorkshire.
Mateusz Bogusz
The Poland youth international made his debut for the Whites in 2020 as the club celebrated promotion to the Premier League with a 4-0 victory against Charlton Athletic. However, he has made just one League Cup appearance for the club since.
Instead of staying within the Elland Road peripheries, Bogusz has spent much of the last two seasons on loan in the Spanish second tier, with time being spent with Logrones and Ibiza. However, his spell with the latter was cut short after he injured his anterior cruciate ligament.
Bogusz is on the mend and Marsch expects him to return to full training next week after keeping a close eye on his recovery at Thorp Arch. However, it seems unlikely, at this stage, that he will have a first-team role to play, especially given he has just one year remaining on his contract.
Ibiza have been vocal about taking him back to the Spain and as he looks to get his career back on track, that’s one that could appeal.
Alfie McCalmont
The Northern Ireland international is 22 now and he is still waiting to make his league debut for the Whites. McCalmont has spent the last two seasons on loan away from West Yorkshire with Oldham and Morecambe and therefore a season spent playing youth football in the Premier League 2 could be seen as detrimental to his development.
He still has two years left to run on his contract, but he should be one pushing for a move in the coming days in order to maintain his development in the Football League.
Amari Miller
Miller turns 20 in November and in order to continue his growth as a young player he needs to be playing first-team football. The winger made five appearances for Birmingham City in the Championship during the 2020-21 season before making the move to Leeds, but he is still waiting to make his senior bow with the Whites.
His game time has exclusively come for the youth side and he has struggled for minutes under Michael Skubala this season. As such, the opportunity to make a name for himself in the Football League would surely be a tempting one for Miller as he looks to kickstart his senior career.
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