Michael Normanton believes Jaidon Anthony will struggle to meet expectations if he returns to Leeds United as Crysencio Summerville’s successor.
Anthony, 24, joined the Whites on a season-long loan from Bournemouth last summer but struggled to get any playing time, starting only twice in the 2023/24 Championship season.
The Square Ball editor Normanton has heard rumors about the left-winger returning to Elland Road this summer, but he doubts fans will believe him if he is expected to fill the vacuum created by Summerville’s £25 million move to West Ham United.
On the most recent edition of The Square Ball on YouTube (16 August), Normanton stated: “It’s a big act to follow for anyone coming in, whether it’s the Gray replacement, the Summerville replacement, or the Rutter replacement.
“These are folks that people have adored, particularly Gray and Rutter, and Summerville was fantastic last year as well.
“If, for example, someone came in – Jaidon Anthony is a name I’ve heard linked with coming back – he’s a good player but if he was to come in and sold to us as a Summerville replacement, I think people would be quite rightly annoyed about it and it would put a lot of pressure on him.”
Who will Leeds United recruit before the summer transfer deadline?
With Summerville and Archie Gray gone, it appears that Georginio Rutter may be on his way out, with Brighton triggering the forward’s £40 million release clause at Elland Road.
Leeds United fans are understandably outraged by the news, given that the club has already witnessed two high-profile departures this summer, as well as Glen Kamara, with no notable signings.
Sure, Joe Rodon has been recruited permanently following his impressive loan last season, while right-back Jayden Bogle has joined from Sheffield United. Aside from them, loanee Joe Rothwell and backup goalkeeper Alex Cairns, the Whites have had a very quiet transfer window.
There are two weeks until the transfer market closes, and there is little talk about who might come in to replace the big-name players that have left or are leaving.
