Leeds United’s pursuit of Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi seemed promising, but it appears that he is now on the verge of joining Sheffield United in a smart move by the club.
With the sale of Crysencio Summerville to West Ham, Daniel Farke is eager to bring in a new winger before the end of the transfer window. Competition is fierce as Leeds navigate the Championship season.
Despite initial interest from Leeds and others, reports indicate that Sheffield United is close to securing Rak-Sakyi’s signature. The winger, who missed Crystal Palace’s pre-season tour, is expected to join the EFL on loan.
The potential deal with Palace includes a call-back option, adding a layer of uncertainty for Sheffield United. This clause, along with the hefty loan fee and wage coverage, could see Rak-Sakyi return to Selhurst Park if he excels.
Leeds’ hesitance to pursue Rak-Sakyi further may stem from this call-back clause, as they prefer not to commit to loan deals that guarantee playing time. The fear of losing the winger mid-season, like West Brom did with Harvey Barnes in 2018/19, is a risk Leeds may not be willing to take.
While Rak-Sakyi would undoubtedly be a promising addition for either Leeds or Sheffield United, the potential for a mid-season exit seems to have swayed Leeds away from making a strong push for the talented winger.
