3 Cheikhou Kouyate alternatives Leeds United could sign instead of the ex-Nottingham Forest man | OneFootball

FLW outline three alternative midfield options Leeds United could look to if they opt against signing Cheikhou Kouyate.

Leeds United have been linked with a move for free agent Cheikhou Kouyate recently, with the Whites short of deep midfield options right now after seeing Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev succumb to injury.

After a good window in terms of midfield signings, bad luck has meant they are thinner in terms of numbers than they had first imagined, with Leeds’ recent team news representing a major concern.

Leeds have just two senior midfielders and two senior centre-backs for at least the next five weeks for crucial games such as Sheffield United after the international break at the very least.

The only way for Leeds to add more experience and depth to their side from now until January is by exploring the free agent market. A handful of worthwhile names have already been snapped up, but there remain some interesting names, such as Kouyate.

The current injury crisis threatens to undermine their season, and they are currently in the midst of worrying about multiple areas of the squad. The likes of Dan James, Manor Solomon, and Isaac Schmidt have missed action of late, but it is Ampadu and Gruev's issues that provide the greatest headache presently.

Ampadu is set to be out until close to January, whilst Gruev's injury could see him miss out until around March. According to The Yorkshire Evening Post, Daniel Farke's side are weighing up a potential move for the Senegal international to bolster their ranks with more midfield depth.

He may be past his best now at the age of 34, but with 291 Premier League appearances under his belt for the likes of Crystal Palace, West Ham, and Nottingham Forest, he'd offer plenty of experience in a position of need for the Whites.

The 34-year-old boasts a wealth of experience but has an edge over other free agents as he can operate as both a defensive midfielder or central defender, which is where Leeds are in desperate need of more depth.

His experience and natural versatility could make him an excellent option, and one that would take some pressure and workload off of the starting defenders and midfielders. He may not be the player he once was in his prime years, but Kouyate has the required quality as the perfect stop gap.

However, there is no guarantee that they will sign him if his sharpness and conditioning is not up to standard. Therefore, they may need to look elsewhere in the meantime. Here, we take a look at three free agents Leeds could still target, should they look to add to their options at the base of midfield.

Edouard Michut

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano last summer, Leeds were among several clubs interested in Edouard Michut. However, no deal materialised in the end, with the Whites opting for the likes of Gruev and Glen Kamara instead.

He should be a name that is familiar to a fair number of Leeds fans for that reason, but also due to the time spent with Championship rivals Sunderland. His career has taken a couple of surprising twists in recent times since that spell with the Black Cats.

The French youth international graduated from Paris Saint-Germain's academy system, and was handed multiple first-team opportunities at the Parc des Princes between around 2021 and 2022, before Michut then spent the 2022/23 season on loan with Sunderland, in which he made 28 appearances in all competitions, scoring once.

The central midfielder put in some impressive performances in a Black Cats shirt, but never truly on enough of a consistent basis, and so he would return to PSG in June last year. Turkish side Adana Demirspor would activate a permanent option in his initial loan deal in January, but come this summer, Michut opted to cancel his contract following a dispute over late payments of wages.

Now a free agent at just 21, Michut is a player who clearly has an abundance of talent and potential, and certainly falls into the low-risk, high-reward category. He is a different profile to Kouyate, but a comfortable ball player and press-resistant midfield player in a double-pivot.

He would retain resale value and has plenty to offer to Leeds, even if he would not have the ball-winning capabilities of Kouyate, or indeed Ampadu and Gruev. He is still far more senior than Charlie Crew and capable of competing with Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell.

Francis Coquelin

A player with some Championship experience, albeit 10 years ago with Charlton Athletic, Francis Coquelin is a player with a wealth of top-flight experience and still only 33, should Leeds look to sign more of a natural defensive midfield profile.

Coquelin signed for Charlton as part of a loan agreement with Arsenal in 2014. The midfielder featured five times for the Addicks in the second tier during his time with the club before returning to the Emirates.

The now 33-year-old spent a further four years before departing for Spanish side Valencia. Having spent two seasons there, Coquelin went on to sign for Villarreal in 2020, helping them win the 2021 Europa League.

He fell down the pecking order at the La Liga side during his final couple of seasons, but should still have plenty to offer for Leeds if they consider him instead of the Senegalese midfield enforcer.

Coquelin is aggressive and tough in the tackle, whilst his ball-playing capabilities in the build-up phase may even be a level above Kouyate. However, he is nowhere near as tall or imposing as the ex-Hammer, which could be something Leeds are looking for to cover both defensive midfield and centre-back.

Etienne Capoue

A recent teammate of Coquelin, and a player with plenty of experience of English football, Etienne Capoue, is also a free agent that Leeds have to be eyeing in their current crisis in midfield.

He has 11 Championship and 180 Premier League appearances under his belt, and could still have something to offer on a short-term deal at the age of 36. He was a class act in his prime, with his combativeness and energy married up with an eye for goal and quality in possession.

Despite featuring for Spurs, he is perhaps best known for his spell with Watford. He made 166 league appearances for the Hertfordshire outfit, and was a regular in almost every season.

He may just help see Leeds through until January as a physical presence who can also carry the ball through the thirds. The former Spurs man, who has been a key player wherever he has played, may not have the legs to play regularly now in 2024.

However, Capoue would be more than adequate as a bench option to provide some support and competition, whilst also having the composure and know-how to see out fixtures late on if Leeds are protecting a lead and need to take the sting out of a game.