Chelsea could sign ‘outstanding’ star for half the price they originally thought

Chelsea could sign ‘outstanding’ Leeds United star Crysencio Summerville for almost half the price they originally thought he’d cost, according to reports.

Leeds are at huge risk of losing some of their best players after dramatically missing out on promotion to the Premier League from the Championship.

They finished the regular 2023-24 Championship season on 90 points, the highest-ever tally by a team not to get automatically promoted from the division.

Many clubs are looking to capitalise on Leeds’ failure and it was thought back in May that Chelsea were eying up a £30m move for Dutch winger Summerville.

The 22-year-old registered 19 goals and nine assists across 43 Championship games last term and was named Player of the Season in the second-tier.

Leeds’ biggest star now looks set for a step up to the top-flight and according to new reports from Foot Mercato, Chelsea might be able to snap him up more cheaply than they previously anticipated.

They claim that Summerville is actually more likely to cost around €20m – which would be around £16.8m – almost halving his previous reported price of £30m.

The Blues, who had been under financial pressure, are finally able to bring in some starts of their own and a cut-price move for Summerville could become a priority.

Chelsea’s decision to sell Ian Maatsen, Michael Golding and Jamie Cumming has given them some wiggle room – and after the Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) deadline passed – they now have a full year to balance out the books again.

The story is completely different for Leeds, who have become easy prey after losing the Championship play-off final to Southampton.

Summerville could well become the latest high-profile exit, who has been labelled ‘outstanding’ by his manager Daniel Farke.

‘He’s an outstanding creative player,’ Leeds boss Farke said about Summerville last season. ‘We know this, but also how hard he works for the team. This is exactly what we need and many compliments to him.’

Chelsea are not the only club keeping tabs on the Dutchman with several other top sides also sniffing around – including Liverpool, Newcastle and Aston Villa.