Leeds United’s executives have expressed their intention to sign a “top” Premier League player, with his current club preferring a loan deal this summer.
Leeds Undergo Overhaul in Busy Summer at Elland Road
A series of departures have occurred at Elland Road, with defender Rasmus Kristensen recently securing a loan move to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. The Danish ace joins notable names like Archie Gray, Luis Sinisterra, Marc Roca, and others in leaving Leeds, following manager Daniel Farke’s heartbreak of losing the Championship play-off final to Southampton in May.
These departures, along with others, have generated around £73.8 million to bolster Leeds’ transfer funds and balance their finances, excluding the wages saved from these players leaving. Additionally, left-back Junior Firpo is in talks to rejoin Real Betis, potentially adding more funds to the total soon.
In terms of new signings, Leeds have acquired Joe Rodon in a £10 million deal from Tottenham, Joe Rothwell on loan from Bournemouth, and goalkeeper Alex Cairns from Salford City for an undisclosed fee.
Losing players like Gray and Kamara will be challenging for Farke, who is aiming for another promotion push next season. Farke is also hoping to retain forward Crysencio Summerville, who continues to attract Premier League interest.
Meanwhile, Leeds’ executives are keen to sign star quality for Farke at manageable rates, with Crystal Palace starlet Jesurun Rak-Sakyi now on their radar. The 21-year-old has admirers at Southampton and other clubs, but Leeds are firmly in the race for him.
Leeds United Express Interest in Signing Rak-Sakyi
According to The Daily Mail, Leeds have expressed an interest in signing Rak-Sakyi for the upcoming season. Palace prefers to loan him out rather than sell him permanently, indicating he is highly regarded at Selhurst Park. Besides Leeds, it is believed Southampton, Sheffield United, and Sunderland are also interested in the England Under-20 international.
Rak-Sakyi finished the 2021/22 season as the Premier League 2’s top goalscorer with 18 goals, making an impact at the academy level. He was then loaned to Charlton Athletic for the 2022/23 campaign, where he scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in League One.
He made six league appearances for Palace last season, but another loan might be beneficial for his development. England defender and Palace star Marc Guehi has praised Rak-Sakyi as a “top player,” and his impressive stats support this claim.
