Ralph Hasenhuttl sat down with his Southampton bosses for a January transfer window summit today and Che Adams’s name will have been near the top of the agenda.
The striker, who has featured in just 646 of the 1,980 Premier League minutes available this season, is becoming something of a political football at St Mary’s Stadium.
Publicly, Hasenhuttl has twice now made it clear he does not want to lose a striker he brought into the club six months ago.
Dare the board risk the wrath of the head coach and the fan base by moving Adams on against the Austrian’s will?
Privately, Leeds United are still yet to be dissuaded in their pursuit and their latest offer, made last Thursday, is yet to be accepted or rejected. Thinking time on the south coast.
Much depends on how stubborn Hasenhuttl wants to be on the subject. With his stock as high as it has ever been, after six matches unbeaten, it is likely the board will bow to his will.
Decisions from today’s meeting will filter through to Elland Road in due course and choices must be made on getting him up to West Yorkshire or moving on, and swiftly.
The first half of the campaign does not give Hasenhuttl a leg to stand on in assertions to Adams or the fan base of his importance to the first team cause in 2020.
However, at precisely the wrong time for the Whites, Adams may have seen the tide turn in recent weeks, especially with Saturday’s match-winning assist from the bench.
LeedsLive understands the player is keen on Elland Road, if his status does not drastically change at Southampton, while United’s current offer is being looked at favourably.
There have been enough positive noises to keep this move alive, but if the dithering goes on, the Whites board is ready to move on with other targets.
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