Six Leeds United players are about to find themselves in the shop window, whether they want to get out of Elland Road or not. Summer tournaments have always provided a platform for footballers to propel themselves to a level they have never seen before.
El-Hadji Diouf, James Rodriguez and Azzedine Ounahi are just some well-known examples of players who played their way into high-profile transfers off the back of stellar summers with their countries. In the absence of a senior competition this year, all eyes are going to be drawn to the under-21 ranks.
The European Under-21 Championship got underway in Romania and Georgia today with a Leeds sextet under the spotlight. Crysencio Summerville started Netherlands’ opening game on Wednesday, while Charlie Cresswell, Leo Hjelde, Kristoffer Klaesson, Illan Meslier and Wilfried Gnonto should also feature.
All of the Leeds names involved are at various stages of their time with the Whites. Summerville, Gnonto and Meslier have already played enough Premier League football to suggest they may attract firm interest in their services.
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Cresswell and Hjelde had promising Championship loans last season, but are seen as parts of the United plan for next term. Klaesson could well remain a second or third-choice goalkeeper unless some unforeseen interest emerges.
The impact Leeds cannot control is the tournament effect. If any of their players impress through a sustained run on the continent, scouts from across the world will have their eyes on them.
Meslier’s likely to already have suitors, but a series of clean sheets en route to the tournament title with France is only going to see his value rise as clubs look to outbid one another. While Meslier is someone Leeds would be open to moving on, they could well be keener to retain Summerville or Gnonto.
They are two young, wide talents who could terrorise some Championship defences. If either of them serves up an array of goals and assists for Netherlands or Italy, marking themselves out as some of the best young forwards on the continent, they will be hard to keep at Elland Road.
The advantage Leeds have is they remain flexible in the transfer window. Nick Hammond has been interim football advisor for less than a week and there is still no head coach in place at the time of writing.
Even if Paraag Marathe or Angus Kinnear have earmarked some of these under-21 talents for roles next season, they have the time to react to their tournament displays and reinvest any inflated fees as best they can.
