Leeds United have one of the brightest young squads across the entirety of the Championship.
Of players used so far this season, only Sunderland have a younger average age than Leeds at 24.1, as per Transfermarkt.
The foundations of Daniel Farke’s success this term has been based around young stars such as Crysencio Summerville, Willy Gnonto, Archie Gray, Georginio Rutter and Ethan Ampadu, all of whom are aged 23 or under.
Such has been the quality of their seasons, four of those players were recognised at the recent EFL awards ceremony, with Summerville crowned Championship POTS and Gray young POTS, as well as apprentice of the year. The former was also joined by Rutter and Ampadu in the TOTS.
And unfortunately as a Championship club, top performances are always bound to attract interest from elsewhere, and that has already proved to be the case.
Crysencio Summerville’s former coach says he can go to the top of football
Summerville and Gray are two players who have already been linked with major moves elsewhere. They are both said to be valued higher than top young stars such as Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah and Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez.
Bayer Leverkusen are reportedly keen on Summerville, while Gray has been mentioned as a potential target by German rivals Borussia Dortmund.
Summerville has been hailed as the best player in the league by Coventry City’s Milan van Ewijk, and now in an interview with the Athletic, one of his former coaches Claudio Braga has spoken on his potential.
Braga is hopeful Summerville will return to the Premier League with Leeds this season, but at the same time, also believes he has the potential to go right to the very top.
“What fascinates me more this year is that I see him playing and finding solutions in the centre of the field. With us he was more of a winger, always on the line, dribbling vertically.
“But the speed and his power in the one-against-one, it doesn’t matter if he’s on the side, up front, in behind. It’s what makes him special.
“We were all looking for consistency for him and, if he can keep it, he can go to the Premier League with Leeds, and maybe one day make a jump to the top in the world.
“It’s up to him but any manager who works with him must not kill the talent. Give him space to find solutions and show his quality. He needs to feel the confidence to do his thing in an attacking way. That gives you the power and the strength, everything in his character.”
Leeds need to hand Summerville new deal if promoted
Summerville will have just two years left to run on his deal at the end of the season and if promotion is secured, a new contract has to be on the agenda.
A return to the Premier League would put Leeds in a great position to keep him, even if clubs do make an attempt to prise him away from Elland Road.
Tying him to a long-term deal would then enable Summerville to continue his development at Leeds, but when he is sold, would also protect his value so a fair fee is received.
