Leeds United supporters are sure to be nervous, as the club is desperate to maintain hold of midfielder Tyler Adams despite dropping into the Championship this season.
Leeds experienced a disastrous season that saw two managers sacked before Sam Allardyce took over in the final stages of the season in a desperate bid for survival.
It didn’t work, and Daniel Farke – previously of Norwich City and, more recently, Borussia Mönchengladbach – is now preparing to lead the team back into the Premier League immediately.
He has already completed deals for goalkeeper Karl Darlow and defender/holding midfielder Ethan Ampadu, and now could look to improve the Whites’ centre further by signing Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara.
Are Leeds interested in signing Glen Kamara?
According to a story published earlier this month in the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds have considered signing Kamara this summer, with the 27-year-old midfielder reported to have a £5 million release clause in his contract.
Leeds could use another center-midfielder after losing Brenden Aaronson and Marc Roca on loan this summer, and Adams’ exit would further exacerbate the need for another new face.
Glen Kamara, how excellent is he?
Kamara has been a vital part of the Gers’ recent comeback, having played 193 games for the club since coming from Dundee for a pittance of £50k, scoring nine goals and giving 11 assists.
The 52-cap Finland international was once described as a “terrific footballer in possession” by former manager Steven Gerrard, and this can certainly work in his favor given Farke’s possession-based style – according to WhoScored, Kamara has a career average pass success rate of 89.3%.
While not a direct replacement, the former Arsenal youth might be the ideal solution for Leeds if Adams does really leave west Yorkshire in the coming weeks.
Ampadu, who cost Chelsea £7 million, spent last season on loan at Spezia as a defensive midfielder, while Kamara is effective but not as prolific as Adams.
According to FBref, the USMNT standout has been described as a “tackling machine” by analyst Kevin Campbell and ranks among the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for tackles and the top 3% for blocks per 90 over the past year.
Adams, on the other hand, lacks the same level of ball-playing poise, completing only 82% of his passes in the Premier League last season, whilst Kamara completed 89% in the Scottish top division.
And, while Kamara did not have the most successful season last season, with an average Sofascore rating of 6.7, his 7.01 score the prior season shows how effective he can be at his peak.
During the 21/22 season, he scored three goals and assisted three others, averaged 1.3 critical passes per game, completed 91% of his passes, and made one tackle per game, earning him the nickname “monster” from Gerrard.
That’monster’ description suggests he possesses the physicality and work ethic to thrive in Farke’s system, and if Adams does leave, he would be an ideal replacement given Ampadu has already signed.
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