Leeds will have to make at least one big-money sale this summer as the club seeks to balance the books after failing to win promotion back to the top flight. Championship Player of the Year Summerville has emerged as a prime candidate for the raising of funds given his market value sky-rocketing during the 2023/24 campaign, which saw him register double figures in goals and assists across all competitions.
The 21-goal Dutch winger is hot property this summer and with the transfer window opening just days ago, there is already interest from Brighton among others, reported to include Chelsea and Liverpool.
Leeds believe they are in a strong financial position to dictate a sale on their own terms, which could mean the club command a fee upwards of £30 million. Some supporters have suggested any Summerville sale will need to see Leeds recoup £40 million, with the 22-year-old evidently highly-rated in Yorkshire.
Interested teams are likely to baulk at that particular valuation, therefore a makeweight could be offered in any deal which sees Summerville leave Elland Road. In practice, this would see the purchasing club part with a sizeable fee, whilst also including a player coming the other way in the deal to sign Summerville.
Given Brighton are the side with the most concrete interest at this stage in the window, here are a number of makeweights and transfer scenarios which may be palatable to both clubs.
1. Tariq Lamptey
The 23-year-old Brighton right-back made 19 league appearances last season due to varying factors, including injury, but only ten of those outings were starts under former boss Roberto De Zerbi. Fabian Hurzeler has arrived in the manager's seat at the Amex Stadium and may perform a squad audit and deem Lamptey surplus to requirements, therefore the sprightly full-back could be used as a makeweight in any Summerville negotiation. | Getty Images
2. Jakub Moder
Polish international Moder has Premier League pedigree and a previous goalscoring streak at former club Lech Poznan, but has never really nailed down a regular starting spot at Brighton. His contract is due to expire next summer, therefore the Seagulls may see the 25-year-old midfielder as suitable transfer negotiation fodder. He can play in defensive midfield, a more traditional No. 8 role or as an attacking midfielder, offering versatility and a physical profile Leeds' current midfield options do not have. | Getty Images
3. Carl Rushworth
Brighton goalkeeper Rushworth spent last season on loan at Swansea City where he was one of the Championship's best-performing shot-stoppers. He has several full campaigns within the EFL already under his belt despite turning 23 this summer and would offer genuine competition to current No. 1 Illan Meslier who is yet to recapture his debut Premier League season form. | Simon Marper/PA Wire
4. Jeremy Sarmiento
The Ecuadorean attacker is returning to Brighton this summer after a second half of the season spell at Ipswich Town with whom he was promoted to the Premier League. The 22-year-old demonstrated game-changing ability from the bench whilst at Portman Road, contributing five goals (3 goals; 2 assists) when coming on as a substitute as the Tractor Boys booked their place in the top flight. | Getty Images
5. Mahmoud Dahoud (loan)
Former German international midfielder Dahoud spent the second half of last season on loan at Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart after not quite settling on the south coast. While Hürzeler’s arrival might facilitate a smoother bedding in process given their shared nationality, a loan switch to Leeds to better acclimatise to English football where he would stake a serious claim for regular minutes in central midfield could be a possibility of Brighton are especially keen on Summerville. | Getty Images
6. Evan Ferguson (loan)
Now bear with me. The Irish international forward scored six goals in 27 Premier League appearances last season but they have dried up in 2024. Ferguson’s last strike came in November and the prospect of a loan agreement, where he would surely take centre stage at Elland Road, is not so far-fetched considering he is just 19 and new coach Hürzeler’s opinion of him remains a mystery. A season in the Championship with Leeds has served Brighton-owned loanees well before. | Getty Images