Leeds United supporters have not been accustomed to goal-filled matches involving their beloved side since promotion to the Premier League.
Indeed, Daniel Farke’s Whites are yet to score a goal from open play in league action, with their only strike to date being Lukas Nmecha’s penalty, which won a tight affair versus Everton.
Since then, it’s been many a spurned opportunity from the West Yorkshire outfit, with the free transfer addition of Dominic Calvert-Lewin not even boosting their early-season output.
Leeds might not be so frustrated in this department right now if they had managed to win a deal for Harry Wilson on deadline day, with the Welshman never arriving at Elland Road in the end from Fulham, despite serious efforts to bring him in at the final hour.
Why Leeds failed to sign Harry Wilson
Ultimately, the top-flight newcomers left themselves with too much to do as the clock ticked down, with Fulham deciding last-minute to keep their entertaining attacker around.
Why? Well, the story is a source of frustration as far as Leeds are concerned. They initially met Fulham’s quoted asking price a few days before deadline, but with the Cottagers focused on incomings, the Londoners ended up wanting to re-negotiate a move on the final day of the window.
The Whites did return with an improved offer and while that bid was accepted, resulting in a deal sheet being submitted to get the move signed off, Fulham ultimately decided that they did not want to sell the player, communicating to the hierarchy at Elland Road that a deal was off just minutes before the 7pm deadline.
It was a bitter blow for the Yorkshire side, but it’s understandable that Marco Silva’s men wanted to keep him, knowing full well what he’s capable of at the peak of his powers.
Indeed, the “incredible” number eight – as he was once lauded by Jurgen Klopp – is capable of stunning moments like the one above, culminating in Wilson tallying up 26 goal contributions in total for Fulham in the Premier League.
With a further 30 goal contributions coming his way in the Championship for Silva’s men, Leeds might well have thought they’d struck gold by tempting Wilson to Elland Road, with the Wrexham-born forward also offering depth down either the left or right wing for Farke, amid some gaps in the German’s squad.
However, it just wasn’t to be, as Farke now has to rely on the likes of Wilfried Gnonto and Daniel James until January.
Leeds did once have a tantalising winger in a similar mould to Wilson, though.
Leeds struck gold with their original Harry Wilson
Farke should hopefully have enough at his disposal to get the goals eventually flowing, with Calvert-Lewin boasting 57 Premier League goals at Everton when performing at full capacity.
He would love to have Crysencio Summerville back for selection if he could; however, notably having managed to get the very best out of the electric Dutchman during his first up-and-down season at the helm.
Arguably, his previous dynamite output in the Championship for Leeds puts him on the same pedestal Wilson once found himself on at Fulham in the second tier.
A bumper 28-goal contributions fell into his lap come the end of a breakout 2023/24 season, which somehow saw the Whites slip up in their bid to return to the Premier League in a jittery playoff final.
Still, Summerville would find his own avenue up to the top-flight with West Ham United, as Leeds were powerless to a £25m bid coming their way, in the wake of promotion failing to be secured.
Games played
89
Goals scored
25
Assists
13
Original fee
£1.3m
Fee sold for
£25m
Percentage increase
1823%
Leeds could let themselves be eaten up with regret here, considering Summerville is now strutting his stuff in London – not too far away from Wilson’s Fulham – with two assists next to his name already this campaign.
But, the table above reinforces the idea that Leeds struck gold on the Feyenoord-born attacker when they did, with Summerville purchased for just £1.3m four years ago.
Taking into account the £25m he was sold for, that is a wild 1823% increase between the two prices, with Leeds then putting their riches to good use to construct a promotion-winning team.
While they may be stunted in the here and now with no Summerville-style figure, with the Dutchman also adaptable like Wilson to play down either flank, time is still on Leeds’ side to beat the drop.
The likes of Noah Okafor, who did end up through the door this summer, could well turn into Leeds’ new, impactful Summerville-like presence down the line, with all hope not lost just yet at Elland Road.