The Whites are reportedly closing in on signing the experienced midfielder who is a free agent
Daniel Farke said he’d use the international break to come up with a solution to Leeds United’s midfield issues after long-term injuries to Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev. Having previously played down talk of dipping into the free agent market, the Whites’ head coach looks set to change tact after reported interest in Chiekhou Kouyate.
The 34-year-old former West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest midfielder has been without a club since leaving the City Ground earlier this summer and looks to be closing in on a move to Elland Road.
Daniel Farke said he’d use the international break to come up with a solution to Leeds United’s midfield issues after long-term injuries to Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev. Having previously played down talk of dipping into the free agent market, the Whites’ head coach looks set to change tact after reported interest in Chiekhou Kouyate.
Sam Allardyce – ‘Already likened to Patrick Vieira’
Sam Allardyce signed the midfielder during his time at West Ham United and made a surprise comparison, he told the Evening Standard: “I can see why Cheikhou Kouyate has already been likened to Patrick Vieira —just look at his size and the way he moves. I thought he was our man-of-the-match against Tottenham last week and I, for one, would be delighted if he came close to emulating Patrick’s consistent level of performance.
“It was a brilliant debut and one which you don’t see too often in the Premier League. Normally, when players first come here from abroad, they’re shouting for pure oxygen because they struggle to cope with the sheer intensity of our game. Apart from right at the end against Spurs, when he did go down for a rest after yet another run, his fitness was superb — and infectious because the rest of the players will be saying to themselves: “Come on, I’ve got to get up there with him.”
“They’re not going to want to be shown up by the new kid on the block and that’s very encouraging for me, not only from his point of view but because of what he will drag out of the rest of the players.”
Steve Cooper – ‘This is what he brings’
Former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper was quick to highlight Kouyate’s Premier League experience and knowhow in the build-up to the Tricky Trees clash with Leeds in 2023. He told NottinghamshireLive: “Cheikhou has great experience in the Premier League and he’s a big voice in the dressing room.
“It felt like something was back in the dressing room on Saturday. I thought, ‘oh yeah, Cheikhou is back, this is what he brings’, as well as what he brings on the pitch.
“He’s a fantastic character, a great guy, very happy, but very committed as well. He’s a real man’s man, in terms of leadership.
Patrick Vieira – ‘Determined’
Former Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira was quick to praise the role Kouyate played in helping Senegal reach the Africa Cup of Nations final, in 2021.
The ex-Eagles boss said: “I’m really proud and really happy for him. I knew how determined he was to win that competition and now they are in the final it’s the bigger one, the most important one [game] and hopefully they will win it and he will get back home with the trophy. We will be really happy and proud of him.”
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