Crysencio Summerville, Leeds
Crysencio Summerville was withdrawn with 15 minutes to go in Leeds’ defeat to Southampton in the Championship playoff final. The Dutchman disappointed at Wembley but Leeds’ failure to make an immediate return to the Premier League means interested parties will feel confident of luring the youngster away from Elland Road this summer. The 22-year-old Feyenoord graduate contributed to 29 goals this season, scoring 20 and setting up nine, and he also ranked third for successful dribbles (101) in the division.
Archie Gray, Leeds
Leeds will find it difficult to fend off interest in teenager Archie Gray. The 18-year-old already had a lengthy list of suitors before the Championship playoff final and the club’s failure to overcome Southampton last weekend means the vultures will feel confident of plucking the midfielder from Elland Road this summer. Gray finished the season with 97 tackles to his name, the 13th most in the division. He also scored on his debut for the England Under-21s earlier this year, finding the net in a 5-1 win against Azerbaijan. His family is part of the furniture at Leeds – his father, grandfather and great uncle all played for the club (and Scotland), and his younger brother is at the club’s academy – but they may struggle to keep him.
Gabriel Sara, Norwich
Gabriel Sara was one of only three players to register double figures for both goals (13) and assists (12) in the Championship this season as he effectively hauled Norwich to the playoffs. Their failure to beat Leeds in the semi-finals means the Canaries are resigned to losing the 24-year-old this summer, with Crystal Palace believed to be keeping tabs. The midfielder ranked third for key passes (121) in the division this term to help boost his profile.
Jack Clarke, Sunderland
Sunderland endured a season to forget as they ultimately laboured to a 16th-placed finish. Jack Clarke, though, was one of the club’s shining lights, finishing at the club’s top scorer. The former Leeds and Tottenham forward scored 16 goals, laid on four assists and completed more dribbles (148) than any other player in the Championship this season. He has two years left on his contract but may join Southampton in the top flight.
Jacob Greaves, Hull
Not only did Hull’s failure to make the playoffs cost Liam Rosenior his job but the club may now lose a number of their best players. Centre-back Jacob Greaves will be on a few shopping lists. The 23-year-old ranked second for aerial duels won (183) and 10th for clearances (187) in the Championship this season, displaying an impressive knack for being in the right place at the right time. He also made 76 passes per game, the ninth most in the division.
Jaden Philogene, Hull
Some at Aston Villa were surprised when the club sold Jaden Philogene for £5m in September. The 22-year-old scored 12 goals and provided six assists this season. He also completed 87 dribbles, the fifth most in the division. His goal of the season contender against Rotherham in February really thrust the young winger into the limelight.
Morgan Whittaker, Plymouth
Plymouth guaranteed their Championship safety on the final day of the season and there’s an argument to be made that they would have dropped into League One had it not been for the attacking performances of Morgan Whittaker. Of the 59 goals Plymouth scored this season, Whittaker was directly involved in 27 (45.8%), scoring 19 times. The 23-year-old overperformed his xG by 6.75, the biggest overperformance in the division. New Plymouth manager Wayne Rooney will be hoping Whittaker is still at the club next season.
Jonathan Rowe, Norwich
At the turn of the year, Aston Villa had to decide whether to sign Morgan Rogers from Middlesbrough or Jonathan Rowe from Norwich. Ultimately they chose the former, but the latter would make for a handy addition for Premier League suitors this summer. A hamstring injury in February dented his form in the final weeks of the campaign but Rowe still managed 12 goals and two assists this season, a fine return in a breakout campaign. Of the 200 players to take 25 or more shots, Rowe’s conversion rate of 21.4% ranked 11th.
Sorba Thomas, Huddersfield
A number of Huddersfield players may leave this summer following their relegation to League One, with Sorba Thomas likely to be among that group. He ended the campaign with four goals and nine assists – and that total would be higher if his teammates were better finishers. Only Ipswich’s Leif Davis (125) made more key passes than the Welshman (123) in the Championship this season.
Yáser Asprilla, Watford
Having featured prominently from the bench in the opening weeks of the season, Yáser Asprilla established himself as a regular in the second half of the campaign. Watford finished in 15th but the 20-year-old did all he could, scoring six goals and providing seven assists. He made 2.5 key passes per 90 minutes, the sixth best in the division, and his tally of 1.9 successful dribbles per 90 ranked 22nd. Asprilla has been called up to Colombia’s squad for the Copa América this summer, giving him the ideal platform to impress top-flight clubs.
Source: theguardian.com
