Plymouth Argyle knocked back by Leeds over permanent Darko Gyabi move

Plymouth Argyle sounded out Leeds United about a permanent transfer of their midfielder Darko Gyabi before a deal to take the midfielder on loan for a second time was agreed.

Leeds were not interested in selling Gyabi, who has two years remaining on the contract he signed with them when he joined from Manchester City for a reported £5 million in July 2022. However, with his first team opportunities likely to be limited in the forthcoming campaign, United were open to a loan move

The Green Army have largely welcomed the return of Gyabi after the 20-year-old made nine starts and one substitute appearance in the second half of last term before his time at Home Park was cut short by a groin injury.

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However, some supporters have raised concerns that Gyabi could be recalled from his season-long loan by Leeds in January, just as was the case with Finn Azaz and Kaine Kesler Hayden (both Aston Villa), as well as Luke Cundle (Wolverhampton Wanderers) at the start of 2024.

Argyle director of football Neil Dewsnip told Plymouth Live: "One of our methods of success over the last few years is having had players on loan, and then being able to go back to buy them in some cases.

"Darko wasn't on the market to be bought. Leeds didn't encourage that discussion. We did have a little nibble at that but it wasn't really on their agenda, but to get him back on loan was the next best thing we could do, and that's what we have achieved.

"We all thought he contributed massively last year so the fact he was injured at the end of the season, that was really disappointing for me and Nance (first team coach Kevin Nancekivell) not to be able to select him. So to get him back is great, I'm really looking forward to seeing him play."

On the possibility of Gyabi's loan being ended by his parent club in January, Dewsnip added: "The best we can do, which we have achieved, is to design the agreement with an incredibly short period that Leeds United can request him back.

"Leeds United are more than okay with that. I don't want to mislead the fans, of course, but I would be incredibly surprised if they recall him."

Gyabai is one of two season-long loans already agreed by Argyle ahead of the 202425 Championship campaign, with the other one being Nigerian striker Muhamed Tijani from Czech First League club Slavia Prague.

However, the Pilgrims have an option to sign Tijani on a permanent transfer next summer as part of his deal so there is no prospect of the 6ft 3in forward being recalled by Slavia in January. His arrival at Home Park from eastern Europe just shows that Argyle are looking far and wide for new players to strengthen their squad.

Dewsnip said about Tijani: "I think it's intelligent to look everywhere. We have prided ourselves, I hope, on being reasonably intelligent over the last few years in our approach to talent identification.

"The research on him has been immense. He's different than what we have. He's massive. One or two of the lads in a possession practice the other day bumped into him and they fell over very quickly. He's a beast.

"We know we have not got the biggest budget in the Championship. We have got a little bit more than we had last year in order to make us more competitive, but we still won't have the biggest budget so that means you have to just be a little bit more intelligent with where you are looking."