Leeds United have faced the challenge of losing some of their top talent after failing to secure promotion back to the Premier League last season.
The first major departure from Elland Road was Academy graduate and Championship Young Player of the Year Archie Gray, who moved to Tottenham Hotspur. Glen Kamara soon followed with a permanent switch to Rennes.
Now, the Whites are set to lose another key player as Crysencio Summerville, the Player of the Year from the second tier, has agreed to join Premier League side West Ham United for £25 million.
Summerville’s expected exit leaves Daniel Farke’s side short of options in the wide areas, prompting Leeds to look for reinforcements. Reports indicate they have set their sights on a Premier League winger.
According to Sky Sports Transfer Centre (01/08/2024), Leeds are among several teams interested in a move for Crystal Palace’s Jesurun Rak-Sayki.
Championship rivals Burnley and Sheffield United are also keen on securing a loan deal for the young Eagles talent this summer.
The report notes that Premier League club Southampton is in talks to secure a permanent deal for the left-footed star, but Crystal Palace would prefer to send him out on loan to continue his development next season.
If Leeds manage to secure Rak-Sakyi’s signature for the 2024/25 campaign, he could help Farke offset the loss of Summerville with his potential attacking prowess on the flank.
The 21-year-old right winger could slot into that side of the attack, allowing Wilfried Gnonto to play on the left, cutting inside onto his favored right foot.
Replacing Summerville, who notched 19 goals and nine assists in the league last term, will be challenging, but Rak-Sakyi’s form at youth level and during his loan spell at Charlton in the 2022/23 campaign suggests he has the potential to be an excellent replacement.
Rak-Sakyi impressed as both a scorer and creator during his time at Charlton, and his performances at youth level for Crystal Palace are equally promising.
He racked up 24 goals and eight assists in 40 outings at U21 level and eight goals and eight assists in 17 games at U18 level.
These statistics demonstrate that the £5.1k-per-week winger has the potential to replace Summerville’s contributions, or at least come close, if he can translate his form to the Championship next season.
Described as “remarkable” by Roy Hodgson, Rak-Sakyi could provide an exciting attacking spark for Leeds, joining the likes of Gnonto, Dan James, Mateo Joseph, and Georginio Rutter in Farke’s squad.
His arrival could help Leeds move past the loss of Summerville and strengthen their bid for promotion in the upcoming season.
