Opinion

Leeds have a ‘brilliant’ Crysencio Summerville replacement available to sign for just £8.6m

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Crysencio Summerville’s exit means Leeds United’s transfer department are under immediate scrutiny until the club announce a replacement for the Dutchman, and Wolves may have the answer.

Summerville is the club’s seventh sale of the summer, signing for West Ham to the tune of an initial £25m plus add-ons which could take a deal over the £30m mark. He has signed a five-year deal until June 2029.

With Jaidon Anthony returning to Bournemouth and Ian Poveda leaving on a free to join Sunderland, the Whites are left with just Wilfried Gnonto and Dan James as natural options on Daniel Farke’s wings.

Brenden Aaronson has returned and can play there, as can Georginio Rutter. But the duo are better in the 10 role and Leeds need to find a replacement for Summerville before the end of the summer window.

Olympiacos FC v ACF Fiorentina - UEFA Europa Conference League Final 2023/24
Photo by Sebastian Widmann – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Wolves may have the perfect solution for Leeds in winger

Summerville was renowned for his low centre of gravity, his ability to bamboozle defenders, his vision and his ability to score goals – cutting in on that right foot. Leeds need to sign a player that is similar to that.

Norwich’s Jonathan Rowe has been linked but he is a different player to Summerville. However, Wolves are keen to offload 28-year-old winger Daniel Podence for just £8.6m, according to reporter Ben Jacobs.

“Wolves yet to receive offers for Podence, available for €10m. No contact from Olympiacos. Understand Podence keen on a move to Saudi. Al-Ettifaq considered him 12 months ago, but no plans to make offer.”

The “brilliant” winger, like Summerville, is small in stature and has that agility to get past players. Able to play on both flanks or as a 10, he starred on loan at Olympiakos last term, having a hand in 28 goals.

Podence would be an ambitious move but a stunning signing

The chances of Podence being willing to drop into The Championship is unlikely, but the one-time Portugal star needs a move and as Jacobs reports, there are currently no offers on the table for Podence.

Leeds can certainly afford his transfer fee, but the one issue if Leeds were to approach Wolves over a deal for the winger would be his wages. That, and Podence is keen on a move to Saudi Arabia this summer.

Podence is available, is affordable and would be a perfect like-for-like Summerville replacement. Whether Leeds are interested and could tempt him into a deal remains to be seen, with his deal ending in 2025.