On Sunday, Football Insider reported that Leeds United have backed out of a potential deal to sign Cheikhou Kouyaté. The club had been in talks with the former Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, and West Ham midfielder, but they’ve decided not to move forward with the negotiations.
Despite Kouyaté’s experience initially sparking interest from the Leeds hierarchy, the discussions failed to progress as expected, leading the club to abandon their pursuit.
Leeds could be looking to strengthen their midfield depth after losing Ampadu for the rest of 2024 due to a lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury, which, though serious, is not as severe as an ACL tear.
Gruev is also facing a lengthy absence, as he requires surgery for a meniscus injury, leaving him sidelined for months. Leeds are likely evaluating his fitness carefully, as he hasn’t played more than 1,000 league minutes since the 2021-22 season.
Nonetheless, could Leeds revisit this file in a few days after the matchup against Sheffield United and another injury happens to the midfield?
How much would Cheikhou Kouyaté cost Leeds?
One issue that could prevent Kouyaté from coming to Elland Road is the wages. Kouyaté likely wasn’t among the Premier League’s highest earners, especially compared to some of the big names at the top.
According to Capology, his two years at Nottingham Forest saw him earning £45,000 a week, down from £65,000 per week during his time at Crystal Palace. Throughout his Forest contract, the Senegal international would have earned £2.34 million, putting him among Leeds’ top earners.
Kouyaté has been a free agent since the summer, following his departure from Nottingham Forest after two years at the club, where he made 36 appearances. Last season, the 92-cap Senegal international started just two matches and came off the bench 10 times, playing a total of 208 minutes as Forest managed to avoid relegation.
With 291 Premier League appearances across stints at West Ham, Crystal Palace, and Nottingham Forest, the 34-year-old would bring a wealth of experience to the Leeds group. He’s also enjoyed success overseas, winning four league titles in Belgium and lifting the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.