Jesse Marsch has suggested that Cody Drameh still has a long-term future at Leeds United, despite finalising a second loan move away from Elland Road with Luton Town in the last 24 hours.
Leeds announced Drameh’s exit last night, with the right-back heading back into the Championship with play-off hopefuls, Luton.
That’s Drameh’s second venture into the EFL away from Leeds, having excelled with Cardiff City last season.
Back at Elland Road, Drameh has struggled for opportunities, playing only three times across all competitions under Marsch.
Despite that and another loan move away from Elland Road, there’s confidence that the 21-year-old has a future with the club with a changing view from the player’s perspective.
“I see, in no doubt, a future here for him. He and I have formed a strong relationship over the last eight months. If I go back to the first time I met him, he was dissatisfied about coming back and expressed that he felt this wasn’t going to be right for him. Over time, us getting to know each other, him being a part of what we are building here, he sees his potential here, the potential of what we are doing as a club and he has a lot more excitement about the possibility of what the long-term commitment and project could be like.”
Marsch, via @LUFC.
The key issue for Drameh has been the two senior figures ahead of him in the pecking order. Luke Ayling is reestablished as first-choice, whilst Rasmus Kristensen is involved heavily having arrived in the summer.
“I told him when he left that it was unfortunate that, with Luke (Ayling) and Rasmus (Kristensen), we didn’t have enough opportunities for him to develop right now with us. In many ways, I think he’s ready for those challenges. We were also very clear with each other that we thought it was important that he goes to a club that’s pushing for something, that challenges him in a lot of ways. As a person, I think he’s developed a lot in the last eight months and I think he’s ready to put that to the test at a higher level than he was at Cardiff last year.”
Marsch, via @LUFC.
Drameh had a number of clubs chasing his signature, yet it’s Luton that have now confirmed his arrival. They sit seventh in the table under Rob Edwards and are looking to replace James Bree, who has moved to Leeds’ relegation rivals, Southampton.
After this loan, Marsch is insistent that Drameh will be ready for more at Elland Road.
“A lot of clubs were interested in him, so it was about finding the right challenge for him so that when we see each other in June – and we will be in contact, I made sure to tell him we will be in contact over the next months – that he’s ready for more here and that he’s improved and grown, ready for more challenges here with us.”
Marsch, via @LUFC.
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A loan was the best thing for Drameh this month and Leeds simply couldn’t stand in his way.
The 21-year-old is clearly itching to play games that Leeds can’t offer him at this stage, with Ayling and Kristensen in the squad.
They have sourced a very good move for Drameh in Luton, at a club that need him to come in and play, whilst they push for the play-offs.
Looking ahead to the summer, that jeopardy at Luton will help Drameh adapt to life back at Leeds.