Why Chelsea and Liverpool are chasing Leeds superstar Summerville

It’s not often that a winger comes along who possesses a finishing ability that rivals even the best No. 9s.

But watching Crysencio Summerville last season was like watching a human highlights reel.  

Over the summer window, a lot has been said about the Leeds winger and his links to the Chelsea, Newcastle, and Liverpool - most of it negative, with claims that he would not make the cut.  

There is no denying that the Premier League is a significant step up from the Championship but the manner in which Summerville scores his goals would see him thrive even at the elite level.  

It was no surprise to see Summerville finish his season on 19 goals with an xG differential of plus 2.6. He scores many goals and most of them are glorious, ones that even the best shot-stoppers in England’s elite division that struggle to keep out.  

Summerville might have spent a season in the Championship, but he delivered one of the most extraordinary individual campaigns that the league has ever seen, and clubs in the top six should be paying attention.  

Crysencio Summerville Transfer Value - how much is he worth now?  

According to FootballTransfer's Player Valuation Model, Summerville has a current Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €24.3M, while he was the second most valuable player in the Championship last season.

His value has shot up considerably, from about €9m this time last year to over double.  

What does Crysencio Summerville bring to the table?  

Summerville began at RVV Noorderkwartier but it wasn’t long before he joined the Feyenoord academy, playing for the U17, U19, and U21 levels. He moved to Leeds for a transfer fee of £1.3 million and made his first-team debut in September 2021. 

Summerville's journey at Leeds was a slow burner; there were glimpses of his brilliance but it took a while for it to become consistent. Leeds had the chance to sign Ryan Kent in 2021 as a replacement for Summerville, but they kept their faith in the Dutchman. He struggled for game time under Marcelo Bielsa and later Jesse Marsch, but Leeds’ current head coach, Daniel Farke, has managed to unlock his potential.  

A positionally versatile right-footer, Summerville is primarily deployed as an inverted winger on the left. Though he is capable of playing on either side, cutting inside is where he’s most dangerous.

Last season, Summerville scored 16 goals and provided six assists in 33 Championship matches. Across all competitions, he netted 19 goals and provided 10 assists in 43 games, averaging nearly 0.7 goal contributions per game.  

In the Championship, he ranked first among wingers for deep completions and second for expected goals (xG) and expected assists (xA). He was also in the 92nd percentile or higher for progressive carries, dribbles, and non-penalty xG. According to WhoScored data, Summerville averaged 2.9 key passes per 90 minutes and the 22-year-old is considered 'very strong' at finishing, dribbling, and taking set pieces.  

However, the numbers show he struggled in duels, raising questions about his overall physicality.  

The speculation about Summerville has merit. He has been linked to several sides in England, as well as clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan. Leeds’ sale of Archie Gray to Tottenham means that they are no longer desperate to make a sale. Wilfred Gnonto could well be on his way to Everton too for a significant sum.

It would be another tremendous season in the Championship for Summerville if he was to stay, but you get the feeling a club will come in and sign him soon enough.

This article was provided by Football Transfers.