Crysencio Summerville has been revitalized by Daniel Farke at Leeds United, leading the club’s goalscoring list this season.
On Saturday, February 10, the 22-year-old Dutchman scored another brace against Rotherham United, bringing his season total to 15 goals in all competitions.
Summerville doubled the Whites’ lead after 52 minutes, scoring off a through pass from Georginio Rutter, before converting a penalty eight minutes later.
With Leeds firmly in control of the game and Rotherham showing no signs of resurgence, the star winger added some polish to his penalty, bringing out a panenka to surprise Viktor Johansson between the sticks.
Despite the goalkeeper’s inability to reach the charming chip, Daniel Farke was unimpressed with the penalty kick, noting that he was not a “big fan” of Summerville’s pick.
Daniel Farke is correct to worry about Leeds United’s penalty.
Speaking to The Yorkshire Post following Rotherham’s victory on Saturday (10 February), the manager said: “In terms of penalties, I am a little more old-fashioned, to be honest.”
“I’d rather have the ball in the corner, similar to Joel Piroe’s goal in our last home game (with a penalty). I’m not a fan of this.”
Farke has every reason to be skeptical of Summerville’s panenka penalty. The winger is currently in some of the greatest form of his career, with 23 goals in 30 games across all competitions.
However, there is a thin line between confidence and arrogance. If Leeds were in a critical situation, such as behind 1-0 to a promotion opponent or drawing 1-1 with seconds remaining, a failed panenka penalty would be viewed very differently.
Fortunately for Summerville, he converted against the Millers and avoided embarrassment, but many football players have been embarrassed by attempting the similar tactic.
With Premier League football on the line, Farke must eliminate all boasting before the Whites can confirm their promotion from the Championship, or at the very least ensure that his players know when to flaunt their plumage.
In unrelated Leeds United news, a player who left the club in January compared his new team to his former teammates.
Leeds United’s highest-paid players over the last five seasons
Many excellent players have passed through the doors at Elland Road over the years, and this has not altered despite Leeds United’s return to the Championship.
Naturally, relegation will result in significant changes to the playing roster, with Rodrigo, Tyler Adams, Robin Koch, Marc Roca, Jack Harrison, and Luis Sinisterra among the top players to leave the club this summer.
The Whites needed modifications, in part because of loan terms in several of their contracts, as well as the need to reduce the payroll bill after sliding into the second division.
However, Leeds have also recruited successfully in the last two windows to bring in quality, with Ethan Ampadu, Joel Piroe, Glen Kamara, and Connor Roberts being among the better picks for the club, and many of them will have cost a good lot in terms of wages.
Daniel Farke is a two-time second-tier champion who should have the talent to compete at the top of the league, where Leeds has spent much of the current season.
Many of them are expected to be among the club’s top earners in the Championship; nonetheless, here we look at some of the greatest and most paid players Leeds has had in the last five seasons, three of which were spent in the Premier League.
NOTE: All of these figures are estimates provided by Capology.
Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter earn £70,000 each week till 2023/24.
Bamford has suffered from a lack of fitness and form, with the 30-year-old earning England call-ups following a 17-goal Premier League haul not long ago, and injuries have since caught up with him; nonetheless, his salary reflects what was a good spell two years ago.
Estimates suggest that he gets roughly £70,000 per week alongside Rutter. Although it is unclear how accurate that is following relegation, Phil Hay of The Athletic reported over the summer that “Leeds are protected by significant clauses inserted into every player’s contract, which will see wages fall by a minimum of 50 percent and a maximum of 60 percent” in the event of relegation.
Bamford still has a role to play for Leeds in the second tier this season, as he appears to be part of a front two with the Frenchman close behind him, but his ongoing confidence difficulties are concerning. Rutter’s wage, on the other hand, is unsurprising given his club-record transfer from Hoffenheim last January, and the 21-year-old has been magnificent and an important part of Farke’s season.
Rodrigo Moreno makes £100,000 every week.
2020/21, 2021/22 & 2022/23
The Spanish international attacker has reportedly earned £100,000 per week at Elland Road, making him the club’s top earning over the last decade and possibly ever.
He was Leeds’ highest scorer last season, with 15 goals and two assists in 35 games despite the club placing 19th in the Premier League. His goals nearly preserved the club in the first tier.
Al-Rayyan signed the forward this summer, despite the 32-year-old’s desire to compete at the highest level ahead of the European Championships. His departure to Qatar may have terminated his prospects of adding to his eight goals in 28 caps.
His arrival from Valencia signaled that he would be a high earner in West Yorkshire, having previously played Champions League and Europa League games for a decade.
Rodrigo is the club’s second-highest-value signing of all time, although he went on to produce 28 goals and five assists in 97 games for the Whites across all competitions during his three-year stay at Elland Road.
Jean-Kevin Augustin earned £66,000 a week in 2019/20.
Augustin had only three brief substitute appearances in the Championship until recurring fitness difficulties caused Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds’ leadership to abandon the forward, which proved to be a mistake.
They were required to pay Augustin a substantial compensation package as well as the whole transfer fee to Leipzig after Leeds alleged “extenuating circumstances” surrounding the loan to permanent deal as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
It will go down as one of the worst transfers in the club’s history, as they had to cover some of his over £66,000 weekly salary during the loan. In terms of permanent players, Kiko Casilla was the club’s best earner that season, earning almost £40,000 per week.
