Leeds United ready to move on after Crysencio Summerville transfer saga
Leeds United are now in a position where they can move on after the end of the protracted transfer saga involving Crysencio Summerville, former Whites midfielder David Norris has said.
After a summer of speculation linking Summerville with an exit to multiple clubs, the Dutch forward completed a £25m move to West Ham United (Florian Plettenberg) over the weekend.
While boss Daniel Farke and the Leeds supporters would clearly have preferred to keep last season’s 20-goal talisman, Norris believes they can now draw a line under the transfer drama and concentrate on a make-or-break season.
“The speculation was going to happen every transfer window that Summerville was there,” Norris exclusively told MOT Leeds News.
“It’s a decent fee when the add-ons are included, and it’s a good move all round. Leeds get their fee and can move on, West Ham beat their rivals to their target, and Summerville gets his move back to the Premier League.
“It got to a point where I wasn’t sure if he was going to go. But I see West Ham as a good move for him as well – if they’re spending that much on a player for a new head coach, I do expect him to play.”
Leeds United begin life after Summerville
Leeds United fans have been here before, and they know the drill – no matter the size of a club, being unable to offer immediate Premier League football means an instant struggle to keep your ace cards.
Just like with Archie Gray, barely any of a Whites persuasion begrudge Summerville his switch back to the top flight, albeit with some very skeptical over the transfer fee having believed a higher upfront cost may have been possible – £30-40m was mooted earlier in the window.
Leeds were delivered an unwelcome situation to kick off last season when Willy Gnonto had refused to play as he sought to force an exit – the Italian remains at the club 12 months on although his future is still uncertain.
Whilst there was no indication that Summerville’s desire to leave Elland Road would reach that domain, it does allow the club some closure ahead of a season in which there is little room for error.
Farke is gradually seeing his squad reassembled and will be able to field a relatively strong team to host Portsmouth in Saturday’s season opener – and eyes will be on what the club may be able to do with the sum recouped for last term’s star man.
In other Leeds news, one member of the squad admits the team needs strengthening.
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