Aston Villa tipped to sign Tyler Adams as 'strange' Leeds United contract clauses emerge

We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park… 

Tyler Adams could solve Aston Villa's thinning full-back problem as Leeds United release clause details emerge, according to Alan Hutton.

Adams, 24, was a diamond in the rough in a struggling Leeds United side last season who ended their campaign relegated in 19th place.

However, the USNMT international has been linked with a switch to Villa Park [The Athletic] despite having missed the last two months of Leeds' Premier League campaign due to a hamstring injury.

Leeds are reportedly keen to keep the American midfielder, who has previously played at right-back, at Elland Road, but their Championship status would make it difficult for them to convince him especially when a rising team like Aston Villa are beckoning.

Hutton has tipped Adams to join Unai Emery's side to help in the backline and suggests that Leeds United's unique relegation clauses in their player's contracts could make the deal easier to complete.

"It's an area where they need a little bit of strength in depth," said Hutton to Villa News when speaking about Adams' ability to play at right-back.

"Young is leaving and Cash was out for a bit last season with injuries. They probably need another right-back option.

"I don't know whether it's true or not but I've seen that a lot of these Leeds players have clauses in their contracts saying that if they went down they could go out on loan and all this stuff."

Reportedly, many Leeds players including Adams and goalkeeper Illan Meslier have clauses in their contracts stating that should the club be relegated then players may leave on loan [Daily Mail].

"I don't know if Adams is one of them or if that's an option for him but it's a strange one. I've never seen that before.

"Most teams have a 50 per cent pay cut when you go into the Championship from the Premier League. If you're on £30,000-a-week, suddenly you're on £15,000-a-week and people are like, 'I'm out of here'.

"As I said before, it's not that easy if you've been at a team that's been relegated."

In other Aston Villa news, Monchi is already said to be in talks behind the scenes with this Villa Park man.