Even the most rose-tinted of Leeds United supporters will have accepted long ago that Crysencio Summerville’s Elland Road exit was pretty likely.
Therefore, this makes the £25 million deal which took the Championship Player of the Year to West Ham last week a little easier to stomach.
Finding a replacement for a man who scored 21 goals and set up 10 more across the 2023/24 season, however?
With only a few days remaining until Leeds kick off the new campaign at home to newly-promoted Portsmouth, a Crysencio Summerville-shaped void will take some filling even if Daniel Farke does now have a sizeable wad of cash burning a hole in his wallet.
HITC reported last week – shortly before Summerville swapped West Yorkshire for East London – that Farke had an interest in raiding former employers Norwich City for Gabriel Sara.
That bubble burst, however, when Sara joined Galatasaray for a cool £15 million.
Leeds did not have to look too far for an alternative though. HITC understands that the beaten play-off finalists quickly turned their attention to Sara’s former teammate Jonathan Rowe, in the hope that Norwich would cash in for less than £10 million.
Rowe, after all, has less than a year remaining on his contract.
Leeds United make offer for Norwich City’s Jonathan Rowe
The Telegraph reports that an opening bid of £7 million has now arrived on the Carrow Road coffee table.
A right-footed left winger, Rowe should comfortably slot into the position vacated by Summerville.
And while he might not be as far along in his development as the Dutchman, a tally of 13 goals and four assists last season showcases the potential of a young forward who only turned 21 in April and has barely even scratched the surface of his true talents.
“This is the problem they face now. Having sold Summerville for the fee that they did, everyone who Leeds speak to will have an over-inflated price (in mind),” Carlton Palmer, who represented the Yorkshire giants in the 1990s, tells Football League World.
“But, if they get the youngster in for £7 million, it would represent good business.
“Obviously, Norwich City wouldn’t want to be losing Jon Rowe. Especially as they’ve just sold the Brazilian Sara to Galatasaray, they can’t afford to lose another player late in the window.”
Premier League clubs like Championship starlet
HITC have been told that there is no shortage of interest from the division above.
Brighton and Hove Albion, Brentford, Crystal Palace and Fulham scouted Rowe during his breakout 2023/24 campaign.
But Palmer feels that the England Under 21 international would benefit more from another year in the Championship. Particularly with Summerville’s Elland Road exit opening up a left-sided spot that Rowe could make his own.
“It’s a good move for him. (There are) a lot of Premier League clubs looking at him, but he will be guaranteed more game time and a move to the Championship,” the former Three Lions midfielder adds.
“(That) could benefit Rowe and Leeds.”
HITC have been told that Leeds are also still keen on Dejan Ljubicic.
The Austria midfielder would continue Farke’s drive towards a more dynamic, positive midfield selection alongside Southampton loanee Joe Rothwell. Bundesliga.2 outfit Koln are confident that Ljubicic will stay put, however, after rejecting Leeds’ opening offer of £3.3 million.
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