Championship star 'favours' Chelsea move over Ligue 1 switch after 'holding talks'

Chelsea have reportedly been handed a boost in their pursuit of Leeds United attacker Crysencio Summerville.

The 22-year-old was named 2023-24 Championship Player of the Season after scoring 20 goals and providing nine assists in 46 league appearances, although he was unable to fire Leeds to promotion to the Premier League.

Indeed, the West Yorkshire outfit are now preparing for their third straight season in the Championship after losing in the playoff final against Southampton.

Summerville is now believed to be facing an uncertain future at Leeds, who are forced to cash in on some of their star players this summer in order to balance their books after missing out on promotion.

The Dutchman has two years remaining on his contract at Elland Road and Leeds would ideally like to keep hold of their star man, but a host of top-flight clubs in England and abroad have been credited with an interest in the attacker.

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Leeds star Summerville is in demand

In recent months, Liverpool, Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Newcastle United, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayer Leverkusen have all been linked with a summer swoop for Summerville.

Chelsea are also understood to hold an interest and TEAMtalk reports that the Blues have held 'firm talks' with the player's agent over a potential move to Stamford Bridge.

The report adds that Summerville - valued between £30m and £35m - remains a 'major target' for Chelsea this summer, while Ligue 1 outfit Rennes are the latest team to register their interest and have also held talks with intermediaries over the attacker.

Rennes's pursuit of Summerville comes at a time when the future of teenage sensation Desire Doue is believed to be uncertain amid interest from several top European clubs.

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Summerville's preference is to join Chelsea?

Julien Stephan's side have already completed the signing of one Leeds player this summer after spending around £8.4m to lure midfielder Glen Kamara away from Elland Road.

However, they are not at the front of the queue for the signature of Summerville, whose preference is to move to Chelsea if the opportunity presents itself this summer.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, who has already signed one Championship player this summer in the former of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City, is believed to be on the lookout for attacking reinforcements this summer.

Romelu Lukaku, Armando Broja and David Datro Fofana are three men who do not seem to be in Chelsea's first-team plans going forward, while youngsters including Angelo Gabriel, Deivid Washington and Marc Guiu - a recent signing from Barcelona - could all be loaned out in the near future to gain regular first-team football.