Graham Smyth has shared an update on what people at Leeds United are saying about the prospect of keeping Crysencio Summerville this summer.
Numerous reports have indicated that Summerville will be on his way out of Elland Road after Leeds‘ failure to win promotion back to the Premier League.
The 22-year-old went against the grain by staying this time last year, despite offers as high as £20 million from Premier League sides being knocked back.
That decision proved to be a good one as far as Summerville was concerned, as his return of 19 goals and nine assists in the regular season saw him crowned the Championship’s POTS.
However, without promotion, those levels of performances are bound to attract interest and there certainly aren’t a shortage of takers for him from the top-flight.
Smyth shares behind-the-scenes update on Summerville
Leeds are yet to actually receive any ‘formal approaches’ for Summerville, though the window did only officially open today.
Liverpool, Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Brighton are just some of the clubs who are reportedly keen on signing him this summer, and a price tag of around £30 million has been set.
Summerville will not look to force through an exit from Leeds but as Paraag Marathe alluded to earlier this month, the reality is some key players will have to depart.
And according to Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Smyth, Summerville feels the ‘most likely’ of those, with people at Leeds not actually showing any ‘determination to keep him’ right now.
He wrote: “Crysencio Summerville has the look and feel of the most likely departure for a number of reasons. Firstly, he’s good enough. He proved last season he was better than most Championship defenders and he is destined to play in a top flight somewhere.
“Secondly, the money. Leeds paid something like £1.5m for him and could rake in something like £30m or even £35m for him. The profit margin will look very, very good when it comes to P&S headroom.
“Summerville made a smart decision last summer to stay and become a main man at Leeds and had they gone up I could have seen a new contract at Elland Road. Now, however, I can see an exit.
“No one at Leeds is making any noise about a determination to keep him. And as good as he was last season, with a bit of money to spend I could see him being replaced – just as long as the replacement brings goals and they get that from midfield and other areas too.”
Chelsea transfer move could kick start Leeds transfer domino
Though Chelsea are one of the clubs said to be interested in Summerville, it is actually a move for another winger that could kick start the transfer domino Leeds need to fall this summer.
Chelsea are reportedly in a strong position to win the race for Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise and Summerville is thought to be someone the Eagles could move for as a replacement.
With that in mind, if Chelsea can wrap up a deal for Olise swiftly, it may well see Palace come knocking on Leeds’ door pretty soon to start talks over a deal for the Dutchman.
A release clause of £60 million has been mentioned for Olise, and knowing the amount they would have to spend on replacing him, it would put Leeds in a strong position at the negotiating table.
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