Leeds United could hand transfer lifeline to ex-West Ham United & Crystal Palace star who is now a free agent

Former West Ham United and Crystal Palace man Cheikhou Kouyaté is being considered by Leeds United as they look to the free agent market to sign a new midfielder. The Whites are open to recruiting outside the transfer window after serious injuries to key pair Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev, with the latter expected to be out for a number of months while the former is due back in January.

Kouyaté was one of six senior players who left Premier League side Nottingham Forest at the end of last season after two years and 36 appearances for the club. The 34-year-old first arrived in England after signing for West Ham in 2014 and spent four years with the Irons before making the move to London rivals Crystal Palace in 2018, where he also had a four-year spell.

Back in 2022, it was reported that Kouyaté’s time at Selhurst Park ended after he failed to agree a new contract with the club, as he requested a two-year deal but the Eagles were only willing to offer another 12 months.

He played 147 times for West Ham, scoring 15 goals in that time and then turned out 141 times for Palace, scoring three times. The Yorkshire Evening Post has reported that the Senegal international is one of a ‘small number’ of unattached players Leeds have looked at as they look to find a solution to their injury crisis in midfield. However, a move to Elland Road will depend on Kouyaté’s fitness and how long it would take him to get up to speed with the Whites back in action against Sheffield United on October 18 after the international break.

Leeds manager Daniel Farke has openly expressed his desire to look at the free agent market following the injuries to Ampadu and Gruev. He said: "If I'm really honest, I'm not a big friend of signing players who are out of contract in the beginning of October, because it means more or less they are out of team training since May. That means they are out of team training since whatever, five months. And even if you bring them in, it lasts also a while until they are really ready to go and fully fit and really could play first team football and then quite often the player who is right now injured for the next few weeks, he's even even back in perhaps and ready to go earlier than the players who are out for since five months.

"I think quite often it's a bit like a panic buy or like to pretend to do something anyhow. I think it's professional to check it, and sometimes out of coincidence or out of a special situation, there could be someone out who really suits the needs in this moment."

Leeds are looking at a new midfielder ahead of their next run of games which starts with their home clash with the Blades. They also face Watford, Millwall and QPR before the November international break as well as travelling to Bristol City and hosting Plymouth Argyle.