Che Adams believes he made a “great choice” when deciding to stay at Southampton despite interest from Leeds United in the January transfer window, speaking to the Daily Mail.
As the £15 million striker admits, it would have been “easy” to give up on life in the Premier League after six goalless months and take a step backwards.
Ten months ago, Leeds wanted a striker to help fire them back into the big time.
Adams, a converted winger who scored for fun at Birmingham City at Championship level, quickly emerged as Marcelo Bielsa’s top transfer target.
But according to the BBC, the Yorkshire giants saw three bids rejected despite offering Saints the chance to make a £5 million profit on a striker who, at the time, hadn’t found the net once under Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Flash forward to the present day, however, and Adams is one of the most in-form forwards in the Premier League.
Since opening his account at the 29th time of asking with that 40-yard winner against Manchester City, the one-time Sheffield United starlet has scored six times in 13 matches.
“It’s easy to get up and quit but I decided to stick at it,” Adams says, looking back at Leeds’ interest.
“That’s why I chose to play for this team because everyone has the right belief and is on the same path as me – so it was a great choice (to stay).
“Lock-down probably helped me. I did a lot of running. Non-stop work, eating right, training, working behind closed doors. All the right things so when football finally came back I was ready and I could take my chance.
“All the coaches noticed a difference in my fitness, the way I looked, my physique and that was the major key – lock-down.”
Adams has thrived in an old-school partnership with Danny Ings at St Mary’s, combining brilliantly in thumping wins over Everton and Aston Villa.
But with Southampton’s main man expected to miss six weeks with a knee injury, it remains to be seen whether Adams can step up and take his game to a whole new level.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
