Leeds and Sheffield United sent exciting Huddersfield Town view on Brahima Diarra - but one issue is raised | OneFootball

FLW's Huddersfield Town fan pundit has been speaking on Leeds and Sheffield United's interest in ex-Terriers starlet Brahima Diarra.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Championship duo Leeds and Sheffield United are understood to be showing transfer interest in ex-Huddersfield Town talent, Brahima Diarra.

The 21-year-old winger graduated from Huddersfield's academy system during the 2020/21 season, and spent time on loan with Harrogate Town before breaking into the Terriers' first-team picture over the last two seasons.

However, upon the expiration of his contract last summer, the youngster would not be retained by the club, and departed the John Smith's Stadium as a free agent.

He would eventually be snapped up by UAE Pro League side Al Wahda in early September, and has been enjoying a fruitful debut season in the Middle East.

According to a report from Africa Foot, Leeds and Sheffield United are among a host of clubs weighing up a move for Diarra, with the young forward also reported to have interest from Leicester City, Sivasspor, Trabzonspor, Young Boys and UAE trio Sharjah FC, Al Wasl and Al Ain respectively, with the latter said to have tabled an approximate £2.5 million bid.

"Has loads of ability" - Huddersfield Town verdict issued on Leeds, Sheffield United-linked Brahima Diarra

We asked our Huddersfield Town fan pundit, Graeme Rayner: 'Brahima Diarra is said to be on Leeds and Sheffield United's radar. Is he good enough for the level they are currently at based on the evidence you've seen?'

Rayner said: "Brahima Diarra has very, very high potential as a player, in my opinion.

"Lots and lots and lots of skill, talent and ability. However, he never really demonstrated anything other than very, very brief spells for us, and never showed any consistency.

"I would caveat that to say that at the time, he was playing in really, really poor Town sides in the Championship that were battling relegation in both of the seasons that he really broke through.

"He knows as well. He rarely started games, he was much more used as a sub. He started single-figure games in each of the last two seasons he was at the club, whereas he came on for longer spells.

"He didn't really achieve very much in that time, but he does have loads of ability. He's still only 21, so it doesn't surprise me that bigger clubs are looking at him.

"I'm not sure what he's done over in the UAE Pro League, I don't really know what the standard is over there, so it's really hard to gauge. But, if either Leeds or Sheffield United are looking at him, what they're looking at is a player with loads of potential that they can perhaps develop.

"Obviously, as a Town fan, we'd much rather he went to Sheffield United than Leeds. If he goes to Leeds, I hope he's very unsuccessful. If he goes to Sheffield United, good look to him. That's what I would say."

Leeds, Sheffield United may see Brahima Diarra as a low-risk, high-reward gamble

Having bagged six goals and two assists in 20 total appearances for Al Wahda so far this season (correct as of AM 9 April), Diarra is clearly starting to flourish into the player many knew he could become over in the Middle East.

As such, the Malian youth international may take some convincing to return to English football, as he may well decide that if he is to leave Al Wahda in the summer, then taking his talents to a different European league could prove more fruitful for him.

However, should either one of, if not both Leeds and Sheffield United reach the Premier League this season, then the prospect of plying his trade in English football's top flight may prove that little bit too tempting.

Judging how much it would take to strike a transfer agreement for his services is very tough to do though, given few details of his contract with Al Wahda are known.

But, if any club is to land his signature in the summer, then they most certainly will be buying largely into his evidently significant potential. As such, the Whites and the Blades, two clubs who aren't afraid to put faith in young players, could view that as a relatively low-risk, high-reward type of move.