Yahoo News Leeds United release Birmingham City transfer target and make Cody Drameh decision
Leeds United have announced their retained list following the club's narrow Championship play-off final defeat to Southampton at Wembley at the end of last month - and they've confirmed that they've offered full-back Cody Drameh a new contract.
Drameh, 22, has only played 10 matches in the Leeds first team - and only two of them were league starts - and he has spent the last two years out on loan. In truth, those loans couldn't have been more different in their outcomes - Drameh helped Luton Town clinch promotion to the Premier League 12 months ago, before he suffered relegation with Blues last term.
The versatile defender, who could play on either side of the back four, played 30 times for Blues last year, but he fell out of favour when Gary Rowett returned to the club in March and made just two appearances - the 2-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers and then as a late substitute in the 1-0 home defeat to Cardiff City.
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Drameh's future at Elland Road appeared uncertain, with his contract up this summer, and because of those loans and lack of first team football in recent years, it was predicted that he might sever ties with the Whites, but the club have decided to explore the possibility of the defender staying beyond the end of his expiring contract.
Leeds revealed their retain and release list on Friday. Luke Ayling - who has signed for Middlesbrough - has been let go, as has the retiring Stuart Dallas. The Whites are talking to Liam Cooper and Jamie Shackleton about extending their stays, but the other senior player whose deal is up and who'll be leaving the club is Ian Poveda.
Poveda was targeted by Blues during the January transfer window but Tony Mowbray couldn’t offload anyone to create room in his squad to sign the winger. Sheffield Wednesday managed to sign Poveda on loan from Leeds on deadline day and he played a key role in their 2-0 victory over Blues on his full debut for the Owls.
Speaking after that match, Mowbray admitted that Blues came within a whisker of signing the Colombia international in January. He said: “Poveda is a good player, I would have to say. We were very close to signing Poveda in this window just gone. He's a player I had at Blackburn Rovers and is a very talented young boy.”
Poveda is among 11 players who have been released by Leeds, while Sam Byram has triggered a contract extension. Drameh is one of six players who could be kept on if they agree to the deals put to them.
