Feyenoord coach Arne Slot admits he’d have welcomed Crysencio Summerville back to the Eredivisie champions but the Leeds United forward is simply ‘too expensive’.
With the frustrating 0-0 draw at home to FC Twente last time out still fresh in the memory, Arne Slot made no secret of his desire to bring a ‘difference-maker’ to De Kuip before the transfer deadline on Thursday.
Crysencio Summerville, taking his game to a whole new level under Daniel Farke at Leeds United, certainly would have ticked that box.
But, three years after Feyenoord accepted a £1.3 million bid from the Yorkshire giants, Summerville’s reputation and price-tag has grown to such an extent that a return to the club where he honed those twinkle-toed talents was all-but impossible.
Feyenoord sold Crysencio Summerville to Leeds United
“We have not been able to find a player who strengthens us in attack and who was feasible for us,” Slot, who guided Feyenoord to their first title since 2017 last season, tells Voetbal Zone. “Otherwise, he would have been there.
“It is not difficult to find such a player. I’ve said that before, because I can think of a lot (of players such as this). However, it must also fit within our financial possibilities. A player must want to come to us and have the will to play in the Eredivisie.”
“I’ll just mention a name so you can write about it again. I would have liked to see Summerville on our side. But he is too expensive.
“I have found him an interesting player for a long time.”
Best-ever scoring season
Rotterdam-born Summerville did not make a single senior appearance for Feyenoord before heading to England in the summer of 2020. A bright spark during Leeds’ relegation campaign last time out, the 22-year-old is rapidly emerging as one of the most influential forwards in the Championship. He has 12 goals and seven assists in all competitions this term.
Slot, meanwhile, also recently dismissed speculation suggesting he could replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, having rebuffed the advances of Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea a few months ago.
Leeds beat Bristol City 1-0 away on Friday, Willy Gnonto scoring a second-half winner.
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