Leeds United released Toumani Diagouraga in the summer but he is yet to find a new club.
When Leeds United completed the signing of Brentford midfielder Toumani Diagouraga in January 2016, then-manager Steve Evans told the BBC: “We’re looking forward to his contribution not only tomorrow but for over many months and years.”
However, while Evans only lasted until the summer, Diagouraga was not in Leeds’ plans for much longer.
The rangy midfielder, an influential figure in the centre of the park for Brentford, made just one appearance for the club once Garry Monk replaced the outspoken Scot in the dugout last year and hardly made the most positive of first impressions as Leeds lost 3-0 to QPR on the opening day of the season.
And, after a loan spell at Ipswich Town in the second half of 2016/17, the Yorkshire Evening Post reports that Leeds released Diagouraga despite the Frenchman having a year left on his contract.
Further blow
A month after his departure, however, the 29-year-old is yet to find a new club willing to give him a chance. The Scunthorpe Telegraph report that Diagouraga has spent the last few weeks training with League One promotion chasers Scunthorpe United and the midfielder even featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Preston North End on Tuesday.
However, Iron boss Graham Alexander has now confirmed that Diagouraga will not be given a fresh start at Glanford Park.
“We are not going to take it forward with a contract,” Alexander told the Telegraph. “Looking at what his qualities are, we feel we probably have those qualities already in people like Neal Bishop and Andrew Crofts, so we don’t want to carry excess numbers for any reason.
“But Toumani will still be training with us because he is a fantastic pro and it will be good for him. He has been here for two to three weeks and shown a great attitude but at the moment there won’t be a contract on the table for him.”
Quite a fall from grace for a player Leeds were so enthused to sign just 18 months ago.
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