Leeds United

Leeds United

Championship

Leeds Utd exodus to begin with electric forwards, as two Euro giants prepare to pounce

Leeds Utd forwards Georginio Rutter, Willy Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville

Two of the very few Leeds Utd stars to emerge with their heads held high this season have emerged as transfer targets for two of Europe’s elite clubs, per reports.

It was chastening season from start to finish at Elland Road that ultimately resulted in Leeds’ relegation to the Championship.

The Whites are on course to be taken over by 49ers Enterprises, while a new permanent manager is yet to be installed following Sam Allardyce’s departure.

However, today’s update regards the playing personnel, with electric forwards Willy Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville attracting top tier interest.

Gnonto (19) and Summerville (21) were among the few bright sparks this season, though were frustratingly used sparingly by Javi Gracia and then Allardyce down the stretch.

The pair would no doubt light up the Championship, though Leeds may well be denied the chance to field the pair in the second tier.

Firstly, La Gazzetta dello Sport claims Juventus are eyeing Gnonto up.

The Turin club have earmarked both Gnonto and fellow Italy international, Nicolo Zaniolo (Galatasaray), as viable replacements if Federico Chiesa departs.

Chiesa is being linked with a move to the Premier League and Juventus could sign both Gnonto and Zaniolo for a combined fee similar to what they’ll expect to receive for Chiesa.

Gazzetta dello Sport acknowledge negotiations between Leeds and Juventus over Gnonto are yet to open. However, the lively teenager will become a ‘concrete option’ if Chiesa departs.

It’ll come as no surprise to learn the outlet believe a Gnonto sale is now far more likely than if Leeds had retained their top flight status.

Summerville heading to Germany?

Elsewhere, German giant Borussia Dortmund are in the mix to sign Gnonto’s fellow winger, Crysencio Summerville.

The Dutchman enjoyed a breakthrough season in west Yorkshire and was the Premier League’s in-form winger in the run-up to the World Cup.

Indeed, he scored his four league goals in successive matches against Fulham, Liverpool, Bournemouth and Tottenham prior to domestic football’s hiatus.

Aston Villa and PSV Eindhoven have both been linked with Summerville. However, according to BILD (as cited by Sport Witness), Dortmund are now involved.

It’s claimed the Bundesliga runners-up have scouted Summerville for a ‘long time’. What’s more, Dortmund will soon receive €103m through the sale of Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid and the club will spend ’60-65 percent’ of the money on new players.

Summerville is in their sights and it’s remarkably claimed he can be signed for what sounds like an incredibly modest €12m.

In lieu of Summerville’s fine displays this term, Leeds will surely haggle for a far greater fee. If Villa and PSV are in the mix too, a bidding war will raise the price.

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