Leeds United boss Daniel Farke could have made a mistake when he decided to not loan out Darko Gyabi during the transfer window.
The Athletic reported on 1 September that Fleetwood Town were interested in signing the 19-year-old midfielder as a last-minute free agent. This news suggested that the midfielder will leave Elland Road temporarily over the summer.
But the League One side were unable to complete a move for the England U-20 international, who could now be set to leave the club – on loan or permanently in January – after struggling to break into the Whites’ first team.
Gyabi arrived at Leeds from Manchester City last summer for a fee believed to be in the region of £5million despite being highly rated at the Etihad Stadium.
He scored an impressive nine goals and laid on two assists in 24 games for the Citizens’ U-18s side as well as one goal and three assists in 16 matches for the U-21s team before making the switch to West Yorkshire.
The midfielder then caught the eye for the Whites’ U-21s last season, having registered two goals and recording three assists in 24 appearances.
That form earned him his first-team debut last November against Wolves in the Carabao Cup, and his first Premier League start the following month against Manchester City.
Since then, the teenager’s opportunities with the senior team have been limited, playing just one minute in the Championship win over Ipswich Town and 45 minutes in the Carabao Cup win over Shrewsbury Town this season.
It doesn’t look like Gyabi’s chances will improve anytime soon now that he’s back with the U-21 side, for whom he scored in a 3-2 win over Colchester United on Friday (September 15).
He surely would have benefited much more to have gone out on loan and earned some first-team experience this season as that option was on the table.
While staying at Elland Road will allow the coaching staff to work with him directly, a move would have likely seen him play more minutes and be in a better position to compete for a place in the side on his return.
If his chances do not improve in the coming months, it seems likely that the Whites will look to secure his loan in January.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reported on August 31 that Ligue 2 side Valenciennes had received a £4 million offer for the midfielder.
Although it seems unlikely that the club will approve a deal for him to leave permanently, they could try to push that forward if they feel his first-team chances at Elland Road are imminent. is limited and suitable offers will appear. .
