Leeds have struck gold on a sensation who's now a £25m star in the making

Leeds United’s late show against Sunderland on Monday night handed Daniel Farke’s side a huge step towards ending their stint in the Championship come the end of the season.

The victory over their promotion rivals moved them seven points clear of third place, with just 13 games to go, extending their unbeaten run in the league to 15 in the process.

Pascal Struijk’s two efforts off the bench demonstrated the importance of substitutes for the Whites this campaign, with every player, whether it be a starter or an impact player having a say in their ambitions of returning to the Premier League.

It’s safe to say the disappointment of last season’s play-off final defeat is firmly in the rearview mirror, potentially going one better in securing automatic promotion given the current buffer they’ve built in recent weeks.

However, the fact Farke has been able to do so after numerous key departures over the summer has made the German’s job at Elland Road all the more impressive.

Crysencio Summerville’s stats at Leeds in 2023/24

After relegation to the second tier in 2022/23, winger Crysencio Summerville was handed a crucial role in the first team to try and secure Leeds an immediate return to the top flight.

He’d previously been an impact player in the Premier League the season prior but cemented his place as a key performer for Farke in his debut campaign at the helm.

The Dutchman would register 20 goals and nine assists in his 46 league outings, producing countless moments of magic and subsequently claiming the Championship Player of the Year award.

However, after such a successful stint, coupled with the failure to claim promotion, Summerville would depart to join West Ham United last summer in a deal worth £25m.

Losing such a talented player was always going to be a blow for the supporters, but it appears that the club have done a superb job in landing a replacement for the youngster – aiding their chances of returning to the top flight this year.

The Leeds star who’s now a £25m star in the making

Players like Summerville don’t come around very often possessing a skill set that not many talents are capable of replicating – making any replacement have a huge task on their hands.

However, Manor Solomon arrived on loan from Tottenham over the summer, with supporters not knowing what to expect after his lack of impact in North London.

Regardless of the expectations placed on his shoulders, it’s safe to say the Israeli international has exceeded beyond anyone’s imagination, registering seven goals and seven assists in his 26 Championship games to date.

The 25-year-old has popped up at key moments for Farke, including the 2-0 win over Norwich City, in which he registered a goal and an assist, playing a vital role in the triumph against the manager’s former side.

Despite his lack of impact in previous seasons, he was labelled as a similar player to Summerville in 2022/23 by FBref, matching or bettering the Dutchman in numerous key areas.

Solomon, who’s previously been dubbed a “monster” by one analyst, matched the former Whites fan-favourite for goals, whilst also posting a higher shot-on-target rate – showcasing his clinical edge in attacking areas.

He also completed more take-ons per 90, subsequently achieving a higher success rate, evidently a better dribbler than Summerville – something which has aided his efforts in the final third this season.

Whilst he’s only on loan in Yorkshire this campaign, supporters will be hoping that, regardless of which division they will be playing in next year, Solomon joins the club on a permanent basis.

Should he do so, the Israeli could well be the club’s next big-money sale, following in the footsteps of Summerville – having a huge impact on the first-team, whilst also pocketing a pretty penny in the process.

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