Leeds risk smashing the dreams of academy product Robbie Gotts by signing Cody Drameh from Fulham, after Sport Bible reported that we had made a ‘significant bid’ for the England U18 international.
The Cottagers have been desperate to keep hold of Drameh, but are now expected to cash-in on the teenager after he refused to extend his contract with the London outfit, as he will otherwise be a free agent next summer.
Liverpool are known to be one of the right-back’s many admirers from the Premier League, while Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt allegedly have plans in place for the Fulham product to hold a medical at their facilities.
We, however, are understood to have lodged a ‘significant bid’ on Monday, with sources close to the situation telling Sport Bible that Drameh will have the final say on where he plays his football next season.
The strength of the interest in his services just goes to show how highly rated the 17-year-old is, after he made 17 appearances in the Premier League 2 during the 2018/19 season, in which he scored once and was accredited with one assist, having only made the step up from Fulham’s U18 ranks permanently in October.
That is not to say Whites chiefs making a move for Drameh is necessarily needed, though, as we already have Luke Ayling taking first-team responsibilities on a regular basis, and have Gotts earning his stripes in our successful U23 ranks.
Harrogate-born Gotts even signed a new contract until the summer of 2022 back in February, having spent time working with Marcelo Bielsa’s first-team in training and was named on the bench twelve times during the regular Championship season, showing how much the boss clearly rates him.
It is also a dream for Gotts to be a part of the United first-team, and minutes on the field representing the Whites next season would be fully deserved.
“I’m over the moon,” Gotts told the club’s official website after penning his new deal. “Having been here since the age of seven and now signing a new contract, I am just really happy.
“It is a dream come true being in and around the first-team, it is something I have always wanted to do and be part of.
“Working under such a big manager, I am learning things every day and I really feel like I have come on as a player. His methods bring out the best in you, he has been so successful and has been really good with me.
“I want to make the next step now and make my debut, and hopefully I’ll be able to stay in and around the first-team more often.”