Daniel Farke thinks he needs three Leeds United signings made to be able to challenge for promotion after losing Crysencio Summerville, The Athletic reports.
According to Nancy Froston via the outlet’s website on 5 August that the Whites are planning to bring in a replacement winger, a full-back and a midfielder after the Dutchman joined West Ham for a fee “in excess of £25million plus add-ons” thanks to a clause in his contract that had been active since last summer.
The manager believes the triple-addition will give him the required depth to be in the race to return to the Premier League.
Norwich City’s Jonathan Rowe has emerged as the latest target to fill the first of those requirements if he can be prized away from Farke’s former side.
Daniel Farke eyes Norwich ace for Leeds United
Summerville’s departure has arrived in a thoroughly dispiriting way for Leeds United fans when the fee appears to be a long way short of what was expected after the headline sale of star teenager Archie Gray to Tottenham has already been made.
It was less than a week ago that talkSPORT (30 July) reported the £40m asking price was close to seeing off the threat of the Hammers, only for the star winger to end up at the London Stadium for far less within a matter of days.
And the emergence of yet another release clause brings back unwelcome memories of last summer when player after player departed based on the the existence, or even just the claim, of a get out in their deals.
So Farke is going to need to restock as quickly as possible to replace the output of last season’s Championship Player of the Season, with the midfielder still needed to replace Glen Kamara’s exit to Rennes.
Rowe, 21, would soften the blow of Summerville’s exit after 12 goals last term, even if it is short of the 21 the ex-Elland Road star managed.
Full-back is perennially an area of focus for the Whites in the transfer market and continues to be so even after the solid signing of Jayden Bogle.
Failure to gain promotion last season suggested strengthening was needed but as things stand it is proving to be a job just to prevent the squad going backwards.
The likelihood of two other teams putting together 100-plus point seasons again is potentially remote but Farke and his staff can’t take the chance of falling short again.
