Leeds United are expected to lose their Dutch star this summer, as Premier League interest grows.
The disadvantage of Leeds United having a player like Crysencio Summerville is that they will have to say goodbye at some point. An immediate return to the Premier League would have postponed the farewells, but they would occur at some point, as they did with Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips.
Summerville is not yet at either level, but a season in which he scored 21 goals and assisted 10 times while winning the Championship’s Player of the Season award suggests he might get there. Promotion would most likely have kept him at Elland Road for another year or so, but given his current trajectory, the opportunity to advance would always present itself.
Those in control at Elland Road must strive to detach emotion from any choice this summer, and with finances limited and further reinforcements required, the departure of Summerville becomes increasingly likely. The 22-year-old has long been linked with Liverpool and Chelsea, but he now has admirers around the Premier League and even in parts of Europe.
Almost 900 miles away from Elland Road, Bayern Munich appear to be closing a €60 million (£50 million) agreement to recruit Crystal Palace striker Michael Olise, despite competition from Chelsea. Olise’s exit from Selhurst Park is all but definite, giving Palace officials time to find a suitable replacement.
That hunt could lead them north to Leeds, with The Mirror suggesting earlier this month that Palace ‘would move’ for Summerville if they lose Olise or Eberechi Eze. They, like Liverpool and Chelsea, have long been interested in the 22-year-old and have a track record of converting Championship talent into Premier League excellence – not only did they recruit Olise from Reading, but Eze came from QPR.
As a result, Leeds may finally be in the position they desired, with numerous teams battling for their player – and not just any two teams, but strong rivals. The ultimate test of their nerve will come as the weeks pass.
Summerville’s price tag has shifted dramatically, but depending on the circumstances, those in control at Elland Road believe that £30-35 million is a feasible aim. Naturally, early bids for Summerville will be at or below market value, and it is up to Leeds to see how long they can go without blinking.
Holding out raises the prospect of a bidding war, with greater eagerness to complete a transaction and competition from elsewhere prompting clubs to raise the bar. Alternatively, one or both might leave Leeds in the lurch, forcing the club to accept a low-ball offer in order to make ends meet.
The YEP knows that Red Bull’s entrance as minority shareholders and front-of-shirt sponsors has strengthened Leeds’ financial position, and that claims of a need to offload players soon are inaccurate. But, at some point, a choice will have to be made about Summerville.
An early cash-in allows Leeds to put money in the bank and move on, giving them time to assess their situation and determine what kind of targets they can afford this summer. However, there is a chance of being shortchanged. To hold out offers the opportunity to maximize return on the £1.5 million they spent on Summerville in 2020, but the longer they wait, the less time they have to use that money and the greater the risk of something going wrong. Leeds will hope that a bidding battle gives them the upper hand, but they must also play their cards correctly.
