Carlton Palmer has urged Leeds United to make a move for Andre Ayew after Swansea City confirmed in their retained list that he would be leaving the club. 

The Swans were beaten 2-0 by Brentford in the Championship play-off final at Wembley in late May meaning they'll be a second tier side once again in 2021/22.

They'll have to negotiate next season without their top scorer as well as when the South Wales club published their retained list earlier this month it was confirmed that Ayew, who has scored 35 goals over the past two seasons, would be leaving the club this summer at the expiration of his contract.

Celtic have already been linked as potential suitors but, speaking to Transfer Tavern, Palmer has urged the Whites to consider a move of their own for the 31-year-old.

He said: "Swansea have only let him go because they didn’t get promoted and he’s their highest-paid player.

“17 goals in the Championship, 16 goals the season before stands to reason that he will go up and score goals in the Premier League. If he weighs in with 10 or 12 goals for you, and you take him on a free, that could be some good business.

Leeds reportedly made a move for the Ghanian forward back in 2019 with Marcelo Bielsa understood to have been determined to reunite with him after their time together at Marseille.

The Verdict

Signing Ayew on a free transfer could represent a smart bit of business for a top tier club, though I'd question whether he's really what Leeds need at the moment.

In Patrick Bamford, Rodrigo, and Tyler Roberts, Bielsa has some strong forward options and you wonder how exactly the Ghana international – who is 31 now – would fit into that.

Money is likely to be tight this summer but Ayew was reportedly earning a whopping £83,000 per week at Swansea and a similar deal at Elland Road would make him the club's second-highest paid player (Salary Sport).

You have to question whether that would be a sound investment given his age.

A move to Celtic, in my eyes, makes a lot more sense.