Leeds United’s move for Cheikhou Kouyate has fallen through due to a medical problem, according to The Pitch Prospect.
Kouyate, who has played just six minutes of football since Boxing Day 2023, underwent a medical with the Championship club last Friday but it emerged there were concerns over his fitness.
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Tests revealed the free agent would not be fit to play for several weeks, leading to club chiefs cutting short a short-term deal with the former Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace midfielder.
Leeds coach Daniel Farke was keen to bolster his options after recently losing midfielders Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev to knee injuries.
Farke is desperate to avoid undoing his side’s efficient start to the season as the Whites sit fifth in the Championship, three points behind leaders Sunderland.
Leeds have lost just one of their first nine league games and are full of confidence heading into Friday night’s mouth-watering clash with second-placed Sheffield United after a 2-2 draw with Sunderland in their last outing.
Farke will be forced to field a patched midfield for Friday’s clash at Elland Road, with Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka earmarked as deputies.
But that is unlikely to stop Farke from continuing to look for reinforcements to his squad on the open market, as was the case with Kouyate.
The Senegal international has been without a club since leaving Nottingham Forest at the end of last season.
The 34-year-old has made 291 Premier League appearances after cutting his teeth in English football with West Ham in 2014.
But Leeds will have to look elsewhere for new faces and according to the Mirror, Steaua Bucharest defender Joyskim Dawa is on the club’s radar.
Leeds will have to wait until January to secure the 28-year-old’s signature.
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Dawa has nine caps for Cameroon and has a £4m release clause, but Leeds could face strong competition from several clubs.