Leeds United right-back Cody Drameh looks set to leave Elland Road in the January transfer window.
What's the talk?
That's according to Graham Smyth, with the Yorkshire Evening Post journalist revealing in a recent post on Twitter that, following reports of numerous clubs taking an interest in his services this winter, the 20-year-old now looks "likely" to move onto pastures new in January.
Regarding the future of the England U21 international, Smyth said: "Noises that only need a serious third party to translate into a transfer - Cody Drameh and Leeds United look likely to part ways in January."
Huge mistake
While it is true that, at present, Drameh appears to have both Luke Ayling and Rasmus Kristensen ahead of him in Jesse Marsch's right-back pecking order, considering just how exciting a prospect the youngster evidently is, the argument that allowing him to leave the club this winter would be a huge mistake is an easy one to make.
Indeed, the England youth international has been one of the U21s' star players in 2022/23, bagging one goal and registering three assists over 7.03 over his three appearances in the Papa John's Trophy.
Furthermore, over his 22 Championship appearances while on loan at Cardiff City last season, the £1.7m-rated full-back was also in fantastic form, helping his side keep six clean sheets, in addition to making an average of 3.8 tackles - the most of any player in the division - one interception, 2.0 clearances and winning 6.9 duels - at a success rate of 57% - per game.
The £4.4k-per-week talent also caught the eye in an attacking capacity, registering three assists and creating four big chances for his teammates, as well as making an average of 0.6 key passes, playing 1.4 long balls and completing 1.1 dribbles per match.
These returns saw the player who Skubala claimed goes "under the radar" average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.92, ranking him as the Bluebird's fourth-best player in the second tier of English football last time out.
As such, with the 31-year-old Ayling's current contract at Elland Road coming to an end next summer, it would appear extremely wise for Marsch and Victor Orta to keep Drameh around this winter, as the 20-year-old will undoubtedly be handed more first-team opportunities following the veteran right-back's likely departure at the end of the current campaign.
Furthermore, considering just how high Drameh's ceiling appears to be, allowing the England youth international to leave so early in his career would very much look to be a huge mistake by the club, as the full-back undoubtedly possesses the potential to one day go on to become Leeds' first choice in the position.