After losing Crysencio Summerville to West Ham, Leeds United boss Daniel Farke wasted little time in labelling the winger an all-but irreplaceable talent.
So, no pressure then Largie Ramazani.
Farke is keen to play down the expectations surrounding his £10 million arrival from Almeria; Ramazani a right-footed left-winger who could battle fellow new recruit Manor Solomon while attempting to step into Summerville’s metaphorically-sizeable shoes.
Leeds, at least, had £25 million burning a hole in their back pocket – plus the similarly colossal sums brought in by Georginio Rutter and Archie Gray – when looking for a new attacker to help fill the void created by the 2024 Championship Player of the Year.
In contrast, after finishing 19th in La Liga last term, Segunda outfit Almeria were hardly negotiating from a position of strength when they lost an irreplaceable attacker of their own.
Leeds sign former Man United starlet Largie Ramazani
Leeds lured former Manchester United prospect Ramazani back to England in late-August.
And Almeria certainly did not have same luxury the Yorkshire giants enjoyed, Leeds negotiating from a position of strength due to their well-stocked wallet and their status as Championship title favourites.
“We don’t have a winger like Ramazani,” Almeria coach Rubi tells Diario de Almeria. “It’s true that he’s a player who can make mistakes in his decision making, but we don’t have players with that spark and electricity in the squad.”
While Leeds could spent heavily on a post-Summerville wideman, Almeria may be forced to delve into their academy for an internal solution.
“In the medium term, if we don’t get a replacement, we’re looking to train a player from the reserve team or the youth team who can make the jump, “adds Rubi. “But the idea is to look for a player with that profile on the market in time.”
Ramazani was one of the few bright sparks in a dismal Almeria campaign.
The former Belgium under 21 international scored against La Liga champions Real Madrid and even provided a hat-trick of assists against Granada, who would later join the Rojiblancos in the relegation zone.
Daniel Farke excited by new £10m Elland Road arrival
Ramazani – labelled an ‘extraordinary’ talent with ‘very good qualities’ by Rubi – made his Leeds debut off the bench in last week’s 2-0 victory over Hull City.
Farke, meanwhile, feels that the seven years he spent in the academies of Charlton Athletic and Man United will work in Ramazani’s favour as he looks to help offset the loss of Summerville and Rutter.
“We need to give him time. It’s beneficial that he has played at academy level in English football,” the former Norwich City boss told Leeds Live before Hull’s trip to Elland Road.
“The longer you work in the Championship, the more you get used to the league. It’s a different physicality. The referees here perhaps allow a little bit more than other countries.
“We will work on his temperament when decisions don’t go in his favour. We will prepare his body for the physical demands of the Championship.
He has played in a good league, playing against Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga. We know that he has potential and we will bring him to the door and it’s up to him to step through the door.
“He’s a player that can create magic but it always starts with hard work.”
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