Leeds United's continued battle against the drop could very well have transfer ramifications for Cardiff City this summer.
Steve Morison has made no secret of the fact he would love to have Cody Drameh back next season. In fact, in response to Bluebirds fans signing about wanting him to stay next year, the manager replied by saying, "I have asked him to stay!"
And why wouldn't he? After all, Drameh, 20, won the club's Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards at the end-of-season bash following the Birmingham City game and few could argue with that given his contribution since arriving on loan from Elland Road back in January.
READ MORE : What Cody Drameh wore to Cardiff training as 'top drawer' kid held up as perfect example
It is understood that Cardiff still retain some hope of getting him back next season, although they are realistic that the young right-back will likely be playing football higher up the table or even in the Premier League next term. Bournemouth are understood to have enquired about him during his time with the Bluebirds.
However, we are also told that it is unlikely that Leeds will want to loan the player out in the Championship if they do indeed suffer relegation from the top flight. That, of course, looks like a likely eventuality at this point. With two games left to play, Leeds are currently in the drop zone, level on points with Burnley who are just outside the bottom three. Everton sit a further two points ahead of them but have a game in hand.
Leeds dropping back down into the Championship would likely represent a big blow in Cardiff's pursuit to get him back on loan next season. Drameh has been bullish in his response to returning to Leeds this summer, he said: "I think game time for me is really important. You saw in January, if I'm not promised game time then I don't really want to be waiting around.
"As a player, everyone wants to play. If you're not in that mindset then I don't know why you're playing football. I want to play games, I'm very young but there are players in my age bracket who have already played 100 games! That's where I want to be."
If Leeds do stay up and reinforce in the right-back department, which is needed according to those in the know up in Yorkshire, then it boosts City's chances of getting him again next term, a prospect Drameh himself has not ruled out. When asked whether a return to Cardiff had been ruled, he replied: "No! My options are very open. But I've got to see. I am contracted to Leeds and I'll see what they are saying with me." You can read the full interview here.
From a Cardiff perspective, at least, it adds an extra level of intrigue to the final throes of the window. Leeds' ultimate fate could weigh heavily on Drameh's next move and indeed Cardiff's chances of getting him back, which would be a major coup.
The player has already returned to Leeds and Jesse Marsch is thought to be running the rule over him at their Thorp Arch training complex ahead of making a big call on his future this summer.
