Pundit urges Jesurun Rak-Sakyi to opt for Hull City or Sheffield United over Leeds United | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer has urged Jes Rak-Sakyi to join Hull City or Sheffield United over Leeds United after Southampton bid turned down.

Carlton Palmer believes Hull City and Sheffield United are the best destinations for Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who is allowed to leave Crystal Palace on loan this month, with Leeds United believed to be another side interested in the player.

This is according to Alan Nixon, who has reported the high volume of interest in the Palace starlet in recent weeks. They are willing to sanction a loan after he spent a chunk of the 2023/24 campaign out injured after sustaining a hamstring problem, and that has probably dented his chances of being involved for Oliver Glasner's side during the upcoming season.

The winger's representatives have now been told that he can leave Selhurst Park on loan, which is a boost for those who are keen to secure a temporary deal for him this month. According to Hull's Tan Keslier, per Hull Live, there are around 15 Championship clubs interested in the winger.

Leeds are one side to have taken an interest in him, but they aren't alone in this race, with plenty of other teams including Hull City and Sheffield United also believed to be keen on Rak-Sakyi. Other reports note that Championship clubs such as Blackburn, Luton, QPR, Sheffield United, and Watford, among others, have all already expressed an interest in the winger this summer, so he isn't be short of competition for his signature.

Carlton Palmer reacts to Rak-Sakyi latest

A decision on Rak-Sakyi's future could be made in the coming days, but one club he doesn't look set to make the switch to is Southampton, who are keen on a permanent deal for the Palace man. The Eagles don't want to sanction a permanent exit for the 21-year-old and have knocked back all offers from the Saints so far.

Ex-England international and former Leeds player, Carlton Palmer, was asked for his verdict on which club is best for the talented young winger. Speaking exclusively to Football League World, he provided his view, and said: "Southampton have failed in their second attempt to sign Jes Rak-Sakyi.

"Crystal Palace are saying that they do not want to sell the young player and they certainly do not want to loan him out to a potential Premier League rival.

"Their preference is to loan him out to a Championship club. They will have noticed the progress of Omari Hutchinson, who went on loan from Chelsea to Ipswich Town last season. "Leeds, Sheffield United, Sunderland, and others are among a raft of clubs interested in signing the player. "I believe Hull, QPR, and Watford have all joined that as well. Rak-Sakyi shot to prominence after a successful loan spell at Charlton Athletic in 2022/23, where he scored 15 goals and contributed nine assists and was named the supporters' Player of the Season. "He picked up a hamstring injury last season, which hampered his progress back at Palace. They are now willing to let the player go out on loan and will do. "Which would be the best fit from the Championship clubs? I'm sure Crystal Palace will want him to go to a club where he can play regular first-team football. You can never insist on a player playing every game but their preference is for him to get game time in the Championship. "Sheffield United have made some good signings, and Kieffer Moore is a player that they will need to get crosses in the box for. That could be a good move for him. "He will want to be at a team challenging at the top end of the table, so Leeds would be a good move for him with [Crysencio] Summerville gone. You know that they are going to be pushing at the top of the league. "The London-based clubs that are interested - QPR and Watford - they've got good young managers. "But where do I see the best move for him? I think a good move would be to the likes of Hull, where he'll get regular football. That, or Sheffield United. "I think Leeds have got a strong squad already, and he probably wouldn't get regular game time at the start of the season.

"That is the priority at Palace, so that he can continue his education and progress."

Crystal Palace and Rak-Sakyi's decision this summer

It is likely that it wouldn't be a deal that would cost a lot to complete, and there is plenty of logic to it on loan, and it may rely on a few factors, but Rak-Sakyi is undoubtedly an intriguing prospect for a number of sides.

The only concern is that he spent most of the year on the treatment table with a hamstring issue. However, he would benefit hugely from a Championship move to a club expecting to fight for promotion, such as Leeds.

Even after Summerville's departure, those assurances of game time may not be a guarantee, but his quality when combining with other good attacking players would see his development rapidly improve.

Sheffield United aren't guaranteed to start with out-and-out wingers, despite some experimentation during pre-season. But his direct running and productivity could be of benefit for a number of teams.

That ability should transfer nicely into the Championship and you can't look past Hull as a decent option, with the Tigers in need of a high-quality winger after losing Jaden Philogene this summer.