Leeds United journalist Phil Hay has been discussing youngster Crysencio Summerville following reports about his future.
The 20-year-old Dutch winger has cut an impressive figure over the past two seasons with the Leeds academy side, scoring nine goals and chipping in with 10 assists in 24 appearances for Mark Jackson’s side.
On top of that, he has made inroads into the first team this season, making eight appearances with just one start coming in their Carabao Cup tie against Fulham, however, his short-term future at the club is up in the air right now.
Recent reports have suggested that German side Hamburg are showing an interest in signing him on loan, although it has been suggested that Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa is not keen on allowing him to leave the club this window.
Speaking on the latest edition of The Phil Hay Show, Hay discussed what the situation was with Summerville, hinting that there are clubs interested in him, but suggested that it might not be the best move for the club to sanction given the way they have struggled with numbers at times this season and the impact that a move like this could have on the side.
He said: “There is interest in him. I’m not sure Hamburg is actually the club that is most keen on him – or at least not the biggest club that have had a look.
“The message from Leeds again is that they’re not in a position to let people go because of injuries. But, of course, that was the message before Drameh went, and Drameh went because he was very much knocking on the door saying, ‘I want to go’, and at that point, Bielsa said, ‘right, okay well, if you’re going, then you go’.
“Look, from a PR perspective, I think one of the last things you want to do is to be letting some of your U23s go at the back-end of a window where potentially nothing much is going on.”
TIF Thoughts on Phil Hay’s comments on Crysencio Summerville at Leeds United…
Would you let Summerville leave on loan?
Yes
No
This is the right strategy for Leeds and Marcelo Bielsa to be taking when it comes to Summerville and the rest of the season.
As Hay hints at, the squad has found itself stretched at times this season, so to be letting more players leave – especially if there hasn’t been anyone coming in that would replace them – would surely be a pretty bad move in the eyes of Leeds fans.
Given his prominence in the team this season, it’s possible that there are some plans for him to get more minutes in the first team between now and the end of the season, and it’s certainly something that Leeds should look to utilise more.
Given Bielsa’s rather unique methods, it would be best for him to stay in the system and get used to that ready for years ahead rather than chopping and changing teams, and Leeds could certainly use the extra body for the remainder of the campaign.
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