Leeds given huge Che Adams lift as Southampton lay out transfer terms

Leeds have reportedly been given a lift in their bid to sign Southampton striker Che Adams after seemingly giving up on any deal.

Marcelo Bielsa is desperate to bring in a new centre-forward after Eddie Nketiah was recalled by parent club Arsenal earlier this month.

Adams is known to be a top target and The Athletic journalist Phil Hay states that the Whites’ interest is ‘still very much active’ in his reply to a fan question about Adams and Watford frontman Andre Gray.

The 23-year-old Adams has scored 34 goals and provided 13 assists in 116 Championship games, including 22 goals and five assists for Birmingham last season before his £15million move to St Mary’s.

But Adams’ time on the south coast has not quite gone to plan, with the forward yet to score and notching two assists in 17 Premier League appearances. He was also left out of the starting XI at Crystal Palace on Tuesday night, despite Danny Ings being rested.

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has gone on record numerous times to refute any rumours that Adams could leave the club in January, saying the youngster is still a part of his plans.

However, Hay hinted that the powers-that-be at Southampton were open to letting their man leave and had a set of demands.

Hay states that Saints are ready to let their underused striker go “for a loan fee of £1million and an obligation to sign Adams permanently for more than £10million at the end of the season.”

If that deal doesn’t happen, then Leeds do have other irons in the fire, with Everton forward Oumar Niasse and Middlesbrough frontman Britt Assombalonga.