Leeds ‘bit nervous’ over Summerville future in promotion race
Leeds United is concerned that the forthcoming summer transfer window may prove too short for them to hold onto Crysencio Summerville.If Leeds United doesn’t get promoted to the Premier League, they fear they won’t be able to resist interest in Crysencio Summerville.Prior to the summer transfer window, Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion have designated the winger as a long-term target.
Reputable reporter Ben Jacobs thinks that towards the end of the season, supporters might try Leeds’ resolve regarding Summerville.
Although writer Ben Jacobs told reporters that Leeds United are “a bit nervous” that fans may go to the negotiation table for Crysencio Summerville if they don’t make it to the Premier League, Jacobs also questioned whether the Dutchman is eager to be out of Elland Road.
German tactician Daniel Farke has his team fighting for a spot in the Championship’s top two heading into the final weeks of the campaign. Farke chose to sign a four-year contract to succeed Sam Allardyce last summer, and he was given the responsibility of leading the Whites back into the top flight at the first time of asking.
After Leeds was relegated to the second division, there was a big exodus from Elland Road, with more than £25 million being recovered from departures. However, Summerville’s outstanding play since the start of the season has made clubs want to buy him.
Summerville on radar of numerous Premier League clubs
According to Football Insider, Summerville’s outstanding performances in the Championship have put him on the radar of Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion as a long-term target. However, Leeds had no intention of cashing in, so a mid-season move before the winter transfer window closed was ruled out.
The winger, who left Feyenoord for Yorkshire in September 2020 after a £1.3 million transfer, is regarded as essential to the Whites’ efforts to return to the Premier League before the following season, so the report suggests that they were determined to reject all offers rather than take the chance of jeopardising their promotion bid.
Respected reporter Paul Brown recently stated that Summerville ‘would be a really good fit’ for Aston Villa and that, if used in the right system, he is destined to shine in the premier league. However, Leeds held firm prior to the deadline of February 1st, citing statistics that show Summerville has been outperforming fellow attackers Georginio Rutter and Daniel James this season.
| Crysencio Summerville’s statistical averages per 90 minutes compared to Georginio Rutter and Daniel James in the Championship this season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Crysencio Summerville | Georginio Rutter | Daniel James | |
| Goals | 0.59 | 0.17 | 0.47 |
| Expected goals | 0.45 | 0.34 | 0.35 |
| Shots | 3.48 | 3.02 | 3.00 |
| Shots on target | 1.33 | 1.01 | 1.13 |
| Tackles | 1.80 | 1.39 | 1.22 |
| Interceptions | 0.59 | 0.42 | 0.33 |
| Statistics according to FBref – Correct as of 16/2/2024 | |||
It is believed that in an effort to deter potential suitors from going to the bargaining table, Leeds placed a £30 million price tag on Summerville in the early months of 2024. Meanwhile, Newcastle United was considering making a winter approach for his talents following encouraging scouting reports.
Even though Farke was able to keep the eight-cap Netherlands under-21 international for the duration of the season, Premier League teams are still keeping an eye on him. Liverpool is considering whether to test the Whites’ determination with a bid in the summer after running the rule over him in an effort to add younger talent to their attacking options.
Summerville declined to push for a way out of his current situation despite Leeds rejecting a £20 million approach from Burnley in August. Everton and old employers Feyenoord were also hovering as they looked to capitalise on Leeds’ relegation into the Championship.
Ben Jacobs – Suitors could have chance to pounce for Summerville
If Farke’s charges are unable to secure an instant return to the Premier League, Jacobs thinks Leeds will be worried about losing Summerville in the summer, as fans may fancy their chances of working out a deal when the transfer window reopens for business.
However, the credible reporter knows that the 22-year-old was not eager to take on a new challenge following his relegation or last month, and he is not necessarily in a desperate search for a way out of Elland Road should the Yorkshire giants finish in the Championship at the start of the 2024–2025 season.
Jacobs stated to reporters:
“Everton, Bournemouth and Burnley have looked in the past, but nothing has ever advanced because Summerville had always indicated that he wanted to stay at Leeds during the summer and January.
“Leeds are very calm about the situation because they feel like the player is looking for stability and game time, and they can give him that.
“It’s perhaps a bit nervous for Leeds because they know that if they don’t go up, there will be an opportunity for interested clubs to revisit the situation. But I don’t think Summerville views it that way.”
Liverpool eager to tempt Gray away from Elland Road
Football Insider reports that Liverpool is eager to entice Archie Grey away from Leeds in the summer, and the Whites are preparing for a flurry of bids should they miss out on promotion to the Premier League following his breakout season.
Although there is a lot of interest in signing him, the report claims that the Championship’s top team had no intention of selling their academy graduate during the winter transfer window. He has proven his versatility by playing at right-back and central midfield this season.
Leeds bolstered their bargaining position last month when they convinced Grey to sign a long-term contract that will keep him with his childhood club until the summer of 2028. As a result, if Gray’s admirers hope to have any chance of closing a deal in the near future, they will need to agree to the demands of his current employers.
Roma ‘may not activate option’ to sign Diego Llorente from Leeds
Diego Llorente, a centre back for Leeds United, is now on loan at AS Roma, raising questions about his future at Elland Road.
As the Premier League triumvirate started preparing for the 2024–25 season, Everton, Crystal Palace, and Liverpool were among the 17-year-old’s suitors at the beginning of the year. However, his decision to pledge his future to the Whites has complicated matters.
Grey has a “promising future ahead of him,” according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who told reporters recently. Grey has already demonstrated in the early phases of his budding career that Leeds might build their squad around him for a lot of years.
