Chairman Paraag Marathe sends transfer reality check as Crysencio Summerville could be sold

Leeds must cut costs after missing out on promotion and chairman Paraag Marathe admits some players could be sold to balance the books

Crysencio Summerville could be sold by Leeds after they admitted some stars will go because of their failure to win promotion back to the Premier League.

Summerville, 22, is Leeds’ most coveted asset and the Dutch striker was voted the Championship Player of the Season after scoring 21 goals and registering nine assists.

Italy striker Willy Gnonto and 18-year-old Archie Gray may also be sold and chairman Paraag Marathe says Leeds must balance the books.

Leeds’ American owners, the 49ers Enterprises, can meet their needs in the Championship, but Marathe admits there will “need to be trade-offs” to avoid falling fall of the EFL’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.

“We have the funds we need to do what we need, but there will need to be some trade-offs,” he said. “It’s not just outs, it’s ins as well, looking at scouting possibilities, but we need to make trade-offs. I can’t talk about specific players right now, it’s too early.

“There are certain things we need to do and we’ll make sure we are fully compliant with P and S as we always have been. We’ll have to get back to the drawing board and see what deals we need to do.”

Leeds will see their income fall next season and their parachute payment will drop from 55 per cent of a club’s Premier League broadcasting revenue to 45 per cent.

They were already in the red and they posted losses of £33.7million in 2022-23, despite selling Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha for a combined £88million, and £36million the year before that.

Leeds must also figure out what to do with their returning players, who triggered exit clauses following relegation to leave last summer on loan. Diego Llorente, Marc Roca, Brendan Aaronson, Max Wober, Sam Greenwood and Rasmus Kristensen are among the 11 due back this summer to add to Leeds’ wage bill.

Jack Harrison is one of those scheduled to return and Everton believe they can take advantage of Leeds’ failure to win promotion to re-sign the winger on another season-long loan.

Marathe also publicly backed manager Daniel Farke, despite his failure to win promotion, and insisted the German coach remains part of their plans.

Farke is just 12 months into his four-year deal and Leeds believe he is still the best win to lead them out of the Championship because he won it twice with Norwich.

“Daniel has been fantastic,” Marathe told BBC Radio Leeds. “I’m excited about working with him next season. We had a long-term plan, a long-term commitment and we have to see it through.

“He has the right temperament. I feel confident because we have a four or five week head start on last year at least.”