Leeds United transfer update: ‘Stunning’ Crysencio Summerville January exit verdict issued amid Premier League interest
A Leeds United exit for Crysencio Summerville in January would be both “stunning” and “self-defeating” for the club, according to Graham Smyth.
The Yorkshire Evening Post journalist said on the paper’s website on 26 October, in his “verdict” from the Stoke defeat a night earlier, that despite Fabrizio Romano mooting Premier League interest around the Dutch winger in the wake of his match-winning performance against Norwich, a winter exit would fly in the face of a host of factors.
The winger scored the equaliser and late winner at Carrow Road on 21 October but, in contrast to various former teammates, he didn’t seek an exit in the summer and the Whites are protected by the fact he has just under three years left on his deal so a departure appears unlikely.
The YEP story says of a move: “On one hand it would of course be no surprise, because as he has proved at Carrow Road and elsewhere, Summerville has a talent that belongs outwith the Championship.
“But given that he and his people were so content to remain at Leeds this season instead of pushing for a summer move, and given the length of his contract, and given 49ers Enterprise’ ambition to secure promotion at the first time of asking, a January exit would be as stunning as it would be self-defeating, at least for the club.
“The question for any player in this Whites squad with designs on a top flight career is whether that would be best served at a club presently eyeing a top flight relegation scrap or one pushing to rejoin the Premier League next summer to make a real fist of life at the top table.”
Jewel
It would make very little sense for Leeds United to fight with such determination not to let Willy Gnonto leave in the face of sustained interest from Everton all summer only to let Summerville go in the next window.
Thanks to injury and the disruption caused by the Italian international’s attempts to push through an exit it is the Dutchman who has had the greater impact on the campaign under Daniel Farke so far.
He is sometimes the target of frustration for a perceived lack of end product, at least prior to his decisive contribution against Norwich, but he is still often the most positive of the attacking threats either way.
Since he only turns 22 next week (30 October) there is plenty of scope for him to continue to improve, as he appears to be doing already through the early months.
It is possible that a club in the top flight offers money that simply can’t be refused in January but outside of that it would surely be in Leeds’ and Farke’s interests to keep together what is arguably the strongest attacking unit in the division.
Despite the disappointing loss at Stoke on 25 October the Whites are still well positioned to be in the promotion picture come the end of the season, but historic starts from both Leicester and Ipswich are threatening to make it a play-off spot at best that is available.
So there may well be movement in the winter window but, after a destabilising summer, the club surely need to keep hold of as many of their key contributors as possible.
In other Leeds United news, the 49ers are expected to make a new senior appointment at Elland Road as Phil Hay says they have found the situation completely inadequate.