Leeds’ new Summerville: £25m star is keen to seal transfer to Elland Road

Leeds United will look to use the upcoming summer transfer window to ensure that they do not suffer from second season syndrome in the Premier League.

The Whites avoided relegation in their first year back in the top-flight under Daniel Farke and must now look up the table, rather than down, ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

They have already been linked with plenty of players since the Premier League season ended last month, including a move for former Elland Road star Crysencio Summerville.

The Dutchman has been relegated to the Championship with West Ham United and the Whites are reportedly considering a deal to bring him back to West Yorkshire in the summer transfer window.

However, there is plenty of competition for the winger, who was sold for £25m by Leeds in 2024, and it remains to be seen how likely a return to the club is.

Championship star wants to move to Leeds United

Summerville was, of course, a superstar in the Championship for the Whites with a return of 19 goals and nine assists for Farke in the 2023/24 campaign, before they lost to Southampton in the play-off final.

Whilst the Dutchman may not be on his way back to Elland Road this summer, there is a star being eyed up by the club who could be their next version of the West Ham forward.

According to Football Insider, Leeds United target Leo Scienza is keen to secure a move to West Yorkshire in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Brazilian winger wants to make the step up to the Premier League after Southampton were expelled from the play-offs off the back of the Spygate drama.

It states that Leeds are one of a number of clubs looking at Scienza as a target after the Saints failed to get promoted, with the Championship side now bracing themselves for offers for their star forward.

Reports last month claimed that the 27-year-old attacker has a release clause in his contract that would allow any interested party to sign him for £25m, but it remains to be seen whether or not Leeds can negotiate a lower fee.

How Leo Scienza can be Leeds United’s new Crysencio Summerville

If the Whites can get a deal over the line to sign Scienza from the Saints this summer, the Championship star could be Farke’s next version of Summerville.

Like the Dutchman, the Southampton forward is a diminutive attacker who uses his speed and low centre of gravity to cause constant problems for defenders, driving past players to get his team up the pitch.

Scienza is not as prolific of a scorer as Summerville once was for Leeds in the second tier, but he is an impressive dribbler who could add a big creative threat for Leeds out wide.

The £25m-rated EFL star did not score tons of goals this season, with seven goals in 39 games, but he did outperform his xG and could score more goals in a team that is set up to create more chances for him.

He has the individual quality to create a goal out of nothing, just as Summerville had during his time at Leeds, and that would make him a valuable asset for Leeds, who often keep games tight and need a moment of magic to pen the match up.

On top of being a Summerville-like dribbler who can carry the team up the pitch, Scienza is an exceptional creator who produced 21 ‘big chances’ for his teammates in the Championship this season.

Meanwhile, no Leeds player in the Premier League created more than nine ‘big chances’ or provided more than five assists, which suggests that Farke’s squad is in need of an injection of creativity.

Scienza, who was described as Southampton’s “biggest threat” by journalist Josh Bunting, has the quality to provide the creativity that Leeds are lacking, with his crossing and passing ability on the left wing.

Whilst he is unproven at Premier League level, the Brazilian’s sublime performances in the Championship for the Saints suggest that signing him is a risk worth taking for the Whites, who could unearth their next Summerville.