The Championship’s Player of the Season has set the division alight in a Leeds shirt with the 22-year-old having a hand in 30 goals from the left flank, scoring 20 goals himself and creating 10 more in assists.
Crysencio Summerville is expected to attract plenty of interest this summer whether Leeds United go up or stay in the Championship and Stephen Warnock has given his verdict.
The Dutchman chose to remain at Elland Road last summer despite interest and Burnley bidding £20m for Summerville. That interest is only going to grow after a wonderful campaign for Daniel Farke’s side.
Aston Villa are said to be among Summerville’s admirers with Unai Emery shining in his role as manager. The Spanish gaffer looks set to guide the Midlands outfit into the Champions League next season.
Former Leeds captain Warnock discussed Summerville’s future ahead of the summer. He thinks that promotion could determine the Netherlands U21 star’s future with the likes of Villa interested in a deal.
Warnock also discussed Villa’s interest in Summerville and whether he could be tempted, in an interview with Football League World this week
Warnock says Crysencio Summerville may struggle to reject Villa
“It all depends on if Leeds go back up to the Premier League. If they stay in the Championship, Leeds will have to cash in on him to make sure they’re secure for however long they need to be,” Warnock said.
“To be able to push on and to probably strengthen the squad ready for next year in the Championship. Leeds fans will hate me for saying this, but if you have got a club like Villa, a manager like Unai Emery.
“You’re in the Champions League positions, then that’s a big thing to turn down, it really is. He’s certainly a player that both Leeds will want to keep hold of, but would also be an exciting addition for Aston Villa.”
Aston Villa not the only Premier League side eyeing Summerville
Liverpool are also said to be considering a move for Summerville and have been scouting the pocket-sized star for a while. Arne Slot is set to take over at Anfield and he is said to be a big fan of the attacker.
Summerville will likely attract more Premier League before the start of the window but as Warnock says, his future is sure to depend on whether Leeds can gain an instant return to the Premier League.
Leeds can still finish second but obviously it looks as if the Whites will be fighting for promotion via the play-offs at the end of the season, and Micah Richards predicted how Leeds will get on in the play-offs.
Micah Richards is enjoying a wonderful start to his punditry career after an early retirement but it has always been unclear which club he actually supports – Leeds United, Arsenal or Manchester City.
Now 35, Richards retired in 2019 aged just 31 after injury saw him unable to get back into the side at Aston Villa. It comes after being renowned for breaking onto the scene at Manchester City as a teenager.
His early form for Manchester City saw him win an England call-up and become the youngest-ever defender to play for the Three Lions. A record that still stands, starting against The Netherlands in 2006 after Gary Neville pulled out with an injury.
Richards went on to play 245 times for Man City, winning the Premier League and FA Cup as well as boasting 13 England caps. But his career went downhill due to injury, going on loan to Fiorentina and then to Villa.
Just 19 appearances for La Viola saw him move to Villa, before only 31 games in four years on the books at Villa. An early retirement saw Richards break into the punditry world where he is now thriving.
Richards is known for being an Arsenal fan but he grew up in Chapletown and was on the books at Leeds early on during his academy days.
That and of course, playing nearly 250 times for the Premier League champions. So which team does Richards actually support? Here is what he said this week on The Rest Is Football.
Richards picks the team he supports – Leeds, Arsenal or Man City
Asked during a Q&A on his podcast alongside Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker, Richards responded hilariously: “Harrogate! Alright okay, oh my god. City.”
Shearer instantly quipped, given Richards’ role as a City ambassador: “That’s right go where the money is, remember who pays you!”. So Richards is a Man City fan before he is a Leeds or Arsenal supporter.
Micah Richards thinks Leeds will win the Championship play-offs
While he might not support Leeds directly, Richards is clearly a big admirer of Leeds given he grew up in the area and was in the academy until the age of 12. Daniel Farke’s side sit in third place in the Championship with the play-offs expected.
Leeds can still get second but need to beat Southampton at Elland Road and hope Huddersfield win against Ipswich. But the play-offs are more likely and Richards thinks Leeds can win the final at Wembley on May 26.
Richards said on The Rest Is Football: “I’m gonna go Leeds in the play-offs. They’re going to bring an army down in the play-offs. Ipswich go automatic, I’m going to say Leeds in the play-offs.”
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