Lyall Thomas, Tim Thornton and Michael Bridge reported in the Transfer Centre blog on 8 August that while Sheffield United are “frontrunners” to sign Rak-Sakyi, the Whites and Hull remain in contention.
According to reports, all three teams and Crystal Palace have agreed on loan conditions for the 21-year-old winger. Rak-Sakyi might play for one of them on the first weekend of the Championship.
Rak-Sakyi was reportedly on Sheffield United’s radar prior to Daniel Farke’s team [Alan Nixon, 7 August], but the winger has not made a decision yet and more work needs to be done on the deal.
Leeds United remain in transfer race for Jesurun Rak-Sakyi
Rak-Sakyi, 21, has never played at the Championship level, but there is still a lot of interest in his future because all three teams think he might be important in the push for promotion.
In particular, the Peacocks need to add to their wide player roster in light of Crysencio Summerville’s move to West Ham United for an alleged £25 million sum.
There is a risk involved in replacing the Championship player of the year with a man who hasn’t played in England’s second division, but United and its two Yorkshire rivals are willing to take the chance.
A £7 million bid has been made to Norwich City for Jonathan Rowe [John Percy, August 5]. However, this kind of investment carries a danger should Farke’s team lose out on promotion, since profit and sustainability constraints loom large over Elland Road.
Rak-Sakyi is a far safer option financially, even if any team that signs him is still likely to have to pay a loan fee of at least £1 million. However, it is unclear if the Whites will be able to beat Sheffield United to sign him.
In other Leeds news, the team is optimistic that the UK’s civil unrest won’t have an impact on their opening-day match against Portsmouth.
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