Leeds United transfer warning with Raphinha and Summerville message sent

Leeds United run the risk of losing more top players if they miss out on Premier League promotion this season - after last summer's big-name exits.

That's the verdict of former Whites coach Gus Poyet, who fears captain Ethan Ampadu could follow the likes of Archie Gray, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter out of the Elland Road exit door if the club can't meet his ambitions.

The Welsh international has been a big miss since picking up a knee injury, but Leeds boss Daniel Farke is hoping to have him back involved sooner rather than later. Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka have performed well in the midfield engine room in Ampadu and Ilia Gruev's absence to keep the promotion bandwagon rolling on.

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Poyet is a big fan of the former Chelsea star, and has backed him to step up to Premier League level in the near future. But if Leeds fail to win promotion again this term, he fears the 24-year-old could decide to move on.

“Ethan Ampadu has been a big miss,” Poyet told BetVictor. “He is probably a Premier League quality player, if not now then he will be in the future. Whether or not he reaches that level with Leeds, or if he transfers to another club, remains to be seen.

“We’ve seen a few players perform well at Leeds and then move on to a higher level in the past few years, such as Raphinha and Crysencio Summerville. It will happen for Ampadu sooner or later because he has that ability.”

Ampadu has been handed the Leeds armband and has been a key player since signing from Chelsea in 2023. Last season he played 54 times in all competitions for Farke's side, but has not played since September after picking up a knee injury against Coventry.