Director feels Leeds can sign a Premier League quality player for bargain £8m

For Leeds United boss Daniel Farke, it makes little sense trying to find an out-and-out, readymade successor for Crysencio Summerville.

With 21 goals and ten assists to his name last season, the Championship’s 2023/24 Player of the Year is about as irreplaceable as they come.

Speaking ahead of Leeds United’s first league game post-Summerville against Portsmouth at Elland Road, Farke feels that – even if The Whites did want to sign a player of the Dutchman’s quality – the funds involved would make such a pursuit impossible.

Furthermore, framing any signing as the ‘new Summerville’ would only serve to pile unneeded pressure upon the shoulders of a late-summer recruit.

“No secret that Crysencio was named the best player in the league,” Farke tells Leeds Live of West Ham’s new £25 million signing. “(We) can’t replace such a player one on one. Don’t have enough money to do this in the Championship.

“(We) want to add another player in this position but not a one-on-one replacement. Too much pressure on the potential incoming.”

With HITC understanding that Jonathan Rowe of Norwich City has emerged around the top of Leeds’ wishlist, Farke’s comments could prove to be very helpful in allowing the England Under 21 international the time and space to feel his way in without the pressure to immediately emulate Summerville’s dazzling impact.

That is, should Leeds get their man of course.

Leeds United are now without Crysencio Summerville

Turning to Rowe after former Norwich team-mate Gabriel Sara joined Galatasaray for £15 million, one of last season’s breakout stars has just a year remaining on his contract.