Fabrizio Romano shares worrying update on future of £15k-p/w Leeds star

1. Leeds United have been dealt a blow with the latest update offered on key man Crysencio Summerville as the transfer window begins to ramp up ahead of the new season.

Summerville one of several likely to leave

ccording to a report in The Daily Mail, the Yorkshire outfit will “have to raise close to £100million in player sales”, while “up to 10 could go and would only be replaced by free transfers and loan signings” as they battle to remain the right side of financial fair play regulations amid outstanding transfer payments totalling close to £75m this summer.

There has been plenty of speculation around who will depart the club ahead of the new season, with reports linking the likes of Wilfried Gnonto, Archie Gray and Georginio Rutter all with moves away from Elland Road. One man who seems certain to leave though is Championship player of the year Summerville.

Leeds United will hope they don’t repeat their Leif Davis errors with this summer sale.

Even though the Dutchman’s £15,000 per week contract at Elland Road still has two years remaining, there is a general expectation that he will leave the team due to interest from the Premier League and Europe, a move that could fetch a sizable fee for his team.And someone else has joined the race. Brighton is pursuing Summerville, a Leeds star. The latest on the Dutchman’s future has been disclosed by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who also attributes Brighton’s interest in the winger to their location on the coast. The Seagulls will attempt to do so once more with Summerville. They have a history of acquiring young players at a deep discount and reaping huge rewards later on.

Though it won’t be “easy” to close a deal, they have “made contact to start talks” with Leeds to “explore” a move for the 22-year-old, according to Romano. A potential obstacle could be the amount Leeds is asking for. Brighton has never paid more than £30 million for a player in their history, with Joao Pedro being their record signing who came from Watford in a similar transfer 12 months ago for a total of £29 million. Summerville’s arrival would most likely have to shatter that, as recent reports place his asking price between £35 million and £40 million. If other interested parties are to secure their interest, they will probably have no trouble affording that amount.

Summerville’s personal goals could also be a problem, as teams like Chelsea and Liverpool could be able to provide European football the following season if they decide to follow through on their initial interest in the Dutchman. Of course, Leeds’ worst-case scenario would be a sale below market value, and Brighton appears to be threatening that scenario ahead of the new campaign.