Roy Hodgson is one of the biggest icons in English football management and so his verdict on Leeds United’s newest transfer target makes for good reading.
Hodgson’s career in the dugout has spanned almost 50 years, with his most recent and potentially fine role coming at Crystal Palace, where he was sacked in February.
He spent over four years in charge of England’s national team, and has also had spells at Fulham, Liverpool, West Bromwich Albion among various others.
Leeds are believed to be in the market for one of his former players in their quest to strengthen the squad this summer.
Just three signings have been made by Leeds so far, and given the number of outgoings, plenty more are going to be needed before the end of the window.
Hodgson’s verdict on Leeds target Jesurun Rak-Sakyi
Though not at this stage, winger could end up becoming a priority position for recruitment in the coming weeks.
Leeds are going to need some serious replacements for if Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto leave, and one player who has been linked is Crystal Palace’s Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.
Rak-Sakyi is wanted by over half of the Championship and was managed by Hodgson at Selhurst Park last season, with the 76-year-old actually stopping him from leaving on loan this time last year.
Due to injury issues and the form of Michael Olise, Rak-Sakyi did not play as much as he would’ve liked across the 2023/24 campaign, but did make an impact in some of the matches he did play.
One of those came in a 0-0 draw in October against Nottingham Forest, in which Hodgson spoke very highly of him to cpfc.co.uk.
He said: “I was delighted for him. He came back from a very successful loan spell. There were a lot of clubs interested in taking him again.
“I had to fight with him a little bit to persuade him that if he really wants to be a Premier League player he is in the best place and chances will come, and today he got that chance and I think he took it extremely well.
“He didn’t just do well on the ball, he also did his defensive work. Of course when you’ve got wingers, talented wingers, that is one of the things you ask questions about: is he going to be good on the ball for those few moments he’s got it, but also what is he going to be like when we’re working hard to stop them doing something with it?”
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Rak-Sakyi is what Leeds need out wide
Though plenty needs to happen for this deal to get done, Rak-Sakyi is exactly the type of player Leeds are missing from their wide options.
The 21-year-old is a left-footed winger who enjoys playing off the right, cutting inside and scoring goals, a bit like Summerville off the other flank last season.
Rak-Sakyi certainly has a solid eye for finding the back of the net, too, registering 15 goals and eight assists for Charlton Athletic in League One during the 2022/23 campaign while on loan.
He also has 23 goals and seven assists for Crystal Palace’s U21s side in Premier League Two.
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