"Poorly handled" - Leeds United criticised after Hull City, Cody Drameh situation reaches conclusion | OneFootball

FLW's Leeds United fan pundit reacts to Cody Drameh's switch to Hull City.

Highlights

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Hull City completed the signing of Cody Drameh from Leeds United this week, with the right-back penning a three-year deal to move from West to East Yorkshire.

The full-back has been signed as the latest addition to the Tigers’ first-team squad following his departure from Leeds, and although Drameh was unattached, Leeds are set to bring in some form of compensation due to his age and the fact he was offered a new deal at Elland Road.

The chances of Drameh agreeing fresh terms with Leeds were basically slim-to-none. For one reason or another, the young right-back has often cut a peripheral figure and has failed to ever ignite the same performances for Leeds as he had done while on loan with the likes of Cardiff City and Luton Town.

A move elsewhere in the Championship was likely to be on the cards again this summer. It had been reported that Leeds expected the defender to reject the contract renewal that has been offered to him, according to Leeds Live. The report went on to add that because Leeds have offered Drameh a new deal, the Whites will now be entitled to compensation if Drameh does find a new club because he is under 24.

It was then revealed by Fabrizio Romano that Hull beat other sides to secure the signature of the right-back. That's despite sides from other European countries being thought to be interested in the player.

The Leeds verdict on Cody Drameh's future as a player

Drameh spent last season on loan with Birmingham City, where he featured 28 times in the league as the Blues suffered relegation to League One, but the versatile defender did not disgrace himself despite now having that record on his CV.

It was not his most impressive loan in the second tier, but one which kept his reputation intact. However, FLW’s Leeds United fan pundit Kris Smith expects Drameh to do well with Hull after other impressive Championship stints.

"Back with Marcelo Bielsa when he first signed, Jesse Marsch, or Daniel Farke recently. Of course, when it's three managers that have made the same decisions, you can't look at them and think that they're wrong for it.

"Obviously, not wanting to start him given the situations we were in is understandable. We had relegation battles and then a promotion chase. But his loans in the Championship speak for themselves, really. "He was Cardiff's best player and won the Player of the Season award there after only playing half a year, and then he was a starter in Luton's team when they won promotion. "For me, that's someone who is definitely worth keeping close by and trying to offer minutes to, especially given that we were playing a midfielder at right-back for most of last season. "Drameh would have been a solid option, but I don't think we will come to regret it that much this season. We have just signed Jayden Bogle, who is one of the best right-backs in the division, only 23, and has the quality we need in what Farke wants from a right-back.

"Having said that, it wouldn't really shock me if Drameh settles in really well, having found a permanent home, ane becomes a really top player."

Cody Drameh's development and potential

Drameh struggled for game time at Leeds, but spent time on loan with Cardiff City, Luton and Birmingham over the last three seasons, even helping the Hatters gain Premier League promotion. While Birmingham struggled for form last year, the full-back still stood out as one of the team’s better performers.

For whatever reason, it didn't click for him at Leeds, but Smith's assessment of his potential is correct, and could leave Leeds with egg on their face in terms of the handling of his development, should he become the player many expect him to after his arrival from Fulham to their youth squad.

Hull's new full-back is still only 22 but has built up plenty of Championship experience already in his career. He should also be a good fit for Tim Walter’s aggressive and intense style of play at the MKM Stadium, where Drameh is a shrewd pickup on a bargain deal from Leeds.