JUST IN: Leeds Poised for a Windfall with Potential Sale of Key Player Valued Higher than Raphinha

Leeds United will be determined not to falter at the final hurdle in their quest for promotion back to the Premier League, as the prospect of another season in the Championship looms if they fall short. Their playoff final opponents are expected to pose a significant challenge, especially after Southampton’s victory at Elland Road on the last matchday, indicating their intent to disrupt Leeds’ ambitions on the grand stage in London.Should Russell Martin’s team secure promotion at the expense of Daniel Farke’s side, there may be a significant player exodus in West Yorkshire. Players like Georginio Rutter and Illan Meslier are rumored to be among those who could be offloaded in a potential post-Wembley restructuring if Leeds face disappointment in the playoff final.

Crysencio Summerville, who was signed by Leeds from Feyenoord in 2020 for a relatively low fee, could also be among the players sold if Leeds fail to gain promotion. This would be a significant loss for the club, as Summerville has since been named the Championship Player of the Season, a testament to his impressive performances and growth since joining Leeds. Leeds’ acquisition of Summerville has proven to be a shrewd piece of business, with the young Dutchman now being valued much higher than the initial fee paid to Feyenoord. However, if Leeds are unable to secure promotion to the Premier League, they may be forced to cash in on their prized assets, including Summerville, to balance the books and prepare for another season in the Championship.

The potential sale of Summerville would be a major disappointment for Leeds fans, who have witnessed the player’s development and have high hopes for his future at the club. Nevertheless, the financial realities of football may dictate that tough decisions need to be made if Leeds fall short of their ultimate goal of returning to the top flight.

Summerville’s transfer to Leeds

When Summerville first arrived at Elland Road four years ago as a relatively unknown player from the Netherlands, few could have predicted his significant impact on the Leeds squad near the top of the Championship. Signed for a modest fee of £1.3 million during Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure as manager, Leeds had optimistic expectations that this transfer could turn out to be a remarkable bargain, given Summerville’s impressive performances in Feyenoord’s youth teams prior to joining Leeds, where he initially featured for the U23s.

 

Summerville’s numbers at Feyenoord
Team	Games played	Goals	Assists
Feyenoord U21s	2	0	1
Feyenoord U19s	13	0	2
Feyenoord U17s	22	5	3
Sourced by Neroworldwide

After settling into his new environment in West Yorkshire, Summerville quickly adapted to his previously unfamiliar surroundings in England. He made a significant impact by registering an impressive 16 goal contributions from 30 matches while playing for Leeds’ U23 team. This success paved the way for Summerville to transition to the first team, as he outgrew youth football and earned opportunities to feature in six Premier League matches during the 2021/22 season under Bielsa.

It wasn’t until the following season that the dynamic Leeds winger truly made his mark on professional football, with a standout goal scored at Anfield propelling him into the spotlight. Consequently, Summerville’s market value continued to soar, and Leeds now view the modest £1.3 million they invested to acquire him in 2020 with a sense of amusement.

Feyenoord, on the other hand, are unlikely to find the situation amusing, as they now regret allowing their homegrown talent to depart when he was just 18 years old. The once unassuming teenager is now reportedly attracting interest from numerous Premier League clubs ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window. Despite Bielsa’s role in nurturing Summerville and handing him his Leeds debut, the winger’s breakout performances came under the management of Jesse Marsch, who took over at Elland Road. All four of Summerville’s Premier League goals to date were scored during Marsch’s tenure, including the dramatic late winner at Anfield, which marked Virgil van Dijk’s first home defeat as a Liverpool player.

Epic scenes at Anfield! 🤯

Summerville stuns Liverpool late on with a huge goal for Leeds! 🚨pic.twitter.com/KdrJ4MylrM

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) October 29, 2022