It has become an all too familiar tale for Leeds United to lose key players over the last two years.
Having lost Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha back in 2022, Leeds‘ results on the pitch have unfortunately led to a number of first team exits, and this summer looks likely to be the same again.
Leeds were relegated from the Premier League just over a year ago and the number of players they lost a result was well into double figures.
After missing out on an immediate return to the top-flight, 49ers Enterprises have acknowledged some key members of the squad will again have to depart this summer, too.
At this stage, it would appear Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray and Ilia Gruev are attracting the most interest, all of which from Champions League level clubs.
Summerville has been linked with Liverpool, while Gray and Gruev are wanted by Germany’s two biggest clubs Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund respectively.
Genoa director makes comment on former Leeds loanee Djed Spence
It remains to be seen whether that aforementioned trio all depart this summer, but one thing is for sure, they will need replacing if they do go.
While chairman Paraag Marathe has confirmed funds will be available to spend, the loan market is certainly an area Leeds will be looking towards.
Over the course of the two windows last season, Leeds brought in four players on loan from the Premier League. It would be fair to say only Joe Rodon was a success.
Djed Spence was arguably the biggest disappointment as he was sent back to Tottenham early just as he had managed to get back fit, with reported issues over his lateness.
Spurs quickly sent Spence back on loan again, but this time to a completely new environment in Italy, as he joined Serie A side Genoa.
The 23-year-old impressed during his time there, so much so Genoa are looking to sign him permanently, with the club’s sporting director Marco Ottolini saying he has the ability to play in the Champions League.
In an interview with Secolo XIX, he said: “Spence and Vitinha? We are talking to the clubs and the players, the idea is to keep them here. Spence has qualities from Champions and still unexpressed potential. Vitinha needs a season to relaunch and Genoa is the right place to do it.”
What Spence said about why Leeds loan did not work
It was a massive shame that Spence’s loan spell at Leeds did not work out, with his time at Nottingham Forest having proved how good he could be at this level.
After working hard to get fit, Spence found his way into the side at left-back over the festive period, but by the end of the first week in January, he was sent back to Spurs.
When asked about his time at Leeds earlier this year, he disputed claims regarding his time-keeping issues, while also pointing towards his lack of game time in his preferred position.
He said: “I don’t think that’s fair at all. I don’t necessarily agree with what they said. But in football, this is how it is: you have to keep your head down, keep going and eventually prove people wrong.
“Some of it is a bit blown out of proportion. You can be late once and if you’re not playing, it’s a problem, and if you are playing, then it’s not a problem.
“I went there, things were going well, then I got injured. I got quite a bad injury to my knee, then I came back but I was still getting pain.
“I came back and was playing a bit but I was playing on the wrong side (at left-back). It wasn’t easy. It didn’t get the best out of me, everyone wants to play in their best position.”