Leeds United's Crysencio Summerville position boosted as Brighton make approach | OneFootball

Leeds United feel that their position on Crysencio Summerville and his sale has been improved by the number of top flight teams that are keen on him, and the recent investment into the club by Red Bull, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.

The prospect of a dismal summer is now slightly less likely. Following the defeat to Southampton at Wembley, in the play-off final, it probably felt as if the world had caved in on Leeds, their players, their staff and their fans.

Nothing much was going their way and the worst seemed as if it was yet to come.

Concerns around the financial position of the club, if they didn't win promotion, were well heard, with the Daily Mail reporting that £100 million worth of player sales would be needed.

That could have meant a few of their top assets needing to leave, but now they are looking more at just one. The national outlet highlighted Summerville as the leading candidate to leave Elland Road, with a fee of over £30 million being reported as the number that Leeds were looking for.

Liverpool and Chelsea were known admirers of the 22-year-old, who was voted as the Championship's Player of the Season for the 2023/24 campaign. Fabrizio Romano has reported that Brighton & Hove Albion have joined the race, with initial talks held between the two clubs over the possibility of a deal for the Dutchman.

This new interest in Leeds' main man has seemed to make the club more happy than worried.

Leeds' boosted position on Crysencio Summerville transfer

The three known admirers of the 22-year-old, and the injection of cash that the club received from the recent Red Bull investment, have given those within the club more confidence that they will be able to: "protect their financial interests," in negotiations for the winger, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Leeds do understand that the chances of him leaving Elland Road this summer are more likely than not, added YEP, but because there are more runners and riders involved in the race for Summerville, the chances of him being sold for under market value have decreased.

Their necessity to sell has also been helped by the new Red Bull money. The Austrian energy drink company recently became minority shareholders and front-of-shirt sponsors of the club.

This influx of money has made the club's FFP standings, in terms of their Profit & Sustainability, much better, as per YEP, meaning they aren't as desperate for money that could have been generated from player sales.

The Athletic also recently said, prior to Romano's revelation about Brighton's interest, that no formal approach had been made by any team for Summerville.

Selling Summerville is still in Leeds' best interest, despite their position boost

The position held by Leeds on whether Summerville will stay is a realistic one. It just doesn't make sense to expect a Player of the Season winner to stay in that same league when there is plenty of interest from the league above.

Of course losing your best player hurts, and it will have a negative effect on the team. But the money that they could use from his sale to bring back successful loanees like Joe Rodon, or improve the squad in other areas, could be more valuable than keeping him around.

The Gnonto situation of a year ago ended up working out alright for Leeds. They ignored his demands, held firm to the contract that they had with him, and he ended up being a solid contributor to the side's campaign.

You wouldn't expect Summerville to kick up quite such a fuss, but, again, they are in a strong position with his contract, which doesn't expire until the summer of 2026 and doesn't contain a release clause, but this time the positives of letting him go probably outweigh that of keeping him at Elland Road.