Leeds United fans knew the day was coming. Crysencio Summerville had been linked with a move away from Elland Road all summer, with switches to the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal rumoured, and his departure was finally confirmed just days before the start of the new Championship campaign.
It was West Ham United that finally sealed his sought-after signature. Julen Lopetegui replaced David Moyes at the London Stadium at the end of last season, and the Spaniard has been working tirelessly to revolutionise a side that started to look stale under the previous management.
Summerville arrives for £25m plus potential additions as part of a trio of transfers that’s sure to excite the Hammers. Niclas Fullkrug and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are set to follow the 22-year-old into the London Stadium dressing room.
West Ham’s gain is Leeds United’s loss, though. The Yorkshire side are still the favourites for promotion in the Championship promotion odds, but they now lack a crucial part of their attacking arsenal, and the timing of the sale is less than ideal.
His departure was always on the horizon, but leaving just seven days before the start of the new season certainly doesn’t benefit Leeds. Indeed, West Ham were the first team to table a serious offer, so there’s not much more they could have done about that.
The big question now, however, is how Leeds cope with the loss of arguably their star player. It’s fair to say that Summerville didn’t exactly hit the ground running when he initially joined from Feyenoord four years ago.
However, his influence on the side gradually grew over the campaigns, and he enjoyed his best season last term. Daniel Farke got the best out of the Dutchman, and he was an integral part of the team that fell agonisingly at the final hurdle when losing to Southampton in the Championship play-off final.
Summerville made 43 appearances for Leeds in the second tier, scoring 19 times and providing nine assists as sides in the second tier of English football failed to cope with the winger’s talent and ability.
Those numbers are not easy to match and with Leeds practically having their arm twisted to sell Summerville and Archie Gray — who joined Tottenham Hotspur for £40 million — to meet the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules, finding a potential replacement might not be easy on a strict budget.
The good news for Leeds is that the money recuperated from the sales of Summerville and Gray means that they should now be able to hold onto Georginio Rutter.
It was feared that he, too, might have to leave in this window, but the 22-year-old now looks set to stay with Wilfried Gnonto likely to be their last major sale of the market.
In terms of who might make Farke’s wish list, there are reports that Leeds have approached Norwich City regarding Jonathan Rowe — who scored 12 times and provided two assists for the Canaries in the Championship last season.
Plymouth Argyle’s exciting winger Morgan Whittaker is another name that has been touted. However, the 23-year-old is believed to have his heart set on Rangers despite interest from big clubs in England.
Ultimately, Farke would have known this transfer was coming since the final whistle blew at Wembley back in May. Therefore, he and Leeds should have had a plan to deal with this blow and keep the side favourable in the Championship betting.
