West Brom fans drop their Grady Diangana verdict after Leeds United rumours

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While fatigue is clearly taking it’s toll on Leeds United, the sight of Manor Solomon assisting Dan James’ early winner away at Middlesbrough on Tuesday night was the perfect tonic to cure those piano-wire muscles.

Solomon had not produced a single goal nor an assist in eight successive Championship matches before Leeds United made the trip up to the Riverside. Dan James, meanwhile, only snapped a seven-game barren run when curling a stunning left-footed finish into the Luton Town net on Saturday.

Consider both of those recent hoodoos well and truly broken.

As Solomon latched onto Junior Firpo’s sublime through ball, the Tottenham Hotspur loanee squared intelligently as an onrushing James converted in front of a love-struck Neil Warnock.

Should Manor Solomon bid farewell to Elland Road over the summer – Leeds are keen to strike a deal with Spurs but alternative options are also being considered – Farke will not only lose the Israel international’s potency in the final third, he will also lose the man who’s vision and guile has James reaching never-before-seen heights.

Manor Solomon loves playing alongside Dan James in Farke’s frontline. The feeling is very much mutual.

Yet, as reports suggest that Leeds are lining up a deal for Grady Diangana of West Bromwich Albion, it’s clear that the Yorkshire giants are looking to avoid putting all their eggs in the same basket.

Leeds United eye Grady Diangana as West Brom deal runs down

Farke suggested a dfew months back that Leeds are likely to have two very different shopping lists drawn up by the time the summer rolls around.

One consisting of targets they could realistically only afford with a Premier League budget – Solomon is valued by Tottenham at around £15 million, for instance – and more affordable alternatives in case of a repeat of last year’s play-off heartbreak.

The second list, presumably, is where Diangana is likely to lie.

The 26-year-old DR Congo international will be a free-agent this summer, after all. And, while a decent enough option at Championship level, a tally of four goals and two assists from 30 league matches at West Brom hardly screams Premier League potential.

According to The Sun’s Alan Nixon, Diangana has played a potential switch to the USA on the backburner as he waits for Leeds – or Wolves – to make their move.

The reaction from the West Brom fans, meanwhile, hardly paints the picture of a fanbase suffering with sleepless nights. The feeling amongst many at the Hawthorns is that Diangana, reportedly The Baggies’ highest-earner on £25,000-a-week, has not quite done enough in recent months to suggest that eye-watering contract is worth renewing.

West Brom fans feel time is up for Diangana at the Hawthorns

Diangana, it should be pointed out, has not only scored four goals while providing a mere two assists. A winger snapped up on a £18 million club-record deal from West Ham back in 2020 has also slipped behind Tom Fellows, Karlan Grant and Mikey Johnston in Albion’s pecking order.

“It’s not even a debate in my opinion,” one West Brom fan argues on social media. “Every single comment to keep reads ‘on his day ‘or ‘if he lowers his his wage’. We’ve kept hold of players for too long before – [Matt] Phillips, [Jake] Livermore etc – we can’t make the same mistake again.”

“Release,” another agrees. “He’s a decent guy but just too inconsistent for me. He’s someone I’ve wanted to do well since he arrived and sadly we’ve only seen flashes of his talent.”

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LeedsLeeds	41	24	13	4	80	28	52	85
2	BurnleyBurnley	41	23	16	2	55	12	43	85
3	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	41	26	7	8	56	31	25	83
4	SunderlandSunderland	41	21	13	7	57	37	20	76
5	Bristol CityBristol City	41	16	15	10	53	44	9	63
6	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	41	17	9	15	61	50	11	60
7	CoventryCoventry	40	17	8	15	57	53	4	59
8	West BromWest Brom	41	13	18	10	49	38	11	57

Diangana arguably has the raw talent to make the grade at Leeds United. The issue, as many West Brom supporters will tell you, is consistency.

Or a lack thereof.

“He’s already gone I reckon. No talk of renewing and doubt he’d take a substantial wage cut to stay. Let’s be honest, he has one in 10 good games. It’s time to move on.”

“Probably the most divisive player in the squad,” another fan sums up. “Personally, I would get rid as I’d guess he’s on a big wage and for me he doesn’t justify it.”

“Release, unfortunately. Love him as a player when he’s on it but he’s inconsistencies don’t justify his wages. Quite injury prone over the years too.”

“On his day, Diangana is unplayable. But, on another day, it can be forgotten that he was even on the pitch. I would release him at the end of the season.”