The £25m star is set to sign for Elland Road

Leeds United will look to use the upcoming transfer window to ensure they don't suffer a second season in the Premier League.

The Whites avoided relegation in their first year back in the top flight under Daniel Farke and must now look up the table, rather than down, ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

They have already been linked with a number of players since the end of the Premier League season last month, including a move for former Elland Road star Crysencio Summerville.

The Dutch player was cut by the Championship and West Ham United and the Whites are reportedly considering a deal to bring him back to West Yorkshire in the summer transfer window.

However, there is plenty of competition for the defender, who was sold for £25m by Leeds in 2024, and it remains to be seen how likely he is to return to the club.

The star of the tournament wants to move to Leeds United

Summerville, of course, were the stars of the Championship for the Whites with the return of Farke's 19 goals and nine assists in the 2023/24 campaign, before they lost to Southampton in the play-off final.

While the Dutchman may not be on his way back to Elland Road this summer, there is a star being watched who could be the next version of the West Ham striker.

According to Football Insider, Leeds United target Leo Scienza is set to move to West Yorkshire in next summer's transfer window.

The report claims that the Brazilian midfielder wants to move up to the Premier League after Southampton were eliminated from the play-offs following the Spygate scandal.

With Leeds one of a number of clubs eyeing Scienza as a target after the Saints failed to gain promotion, the Championship side are now keen to get advice on their star player.

Reports last month claimed that the 27-year-old attacker has a release clause in his contract that would allow any interested party to sign him for £25m, but it remains to be seen whether Leeds can negotiate a lower fee.

How Leo Scienza could be Leeds United's new Crysencio Summerville

If the Whites can get a deal done to sign Scienza from Saints this summer, the Championship star could be Farke's next version of Summerville.

Like the Dutchman, the Southampton forward is a cutting attacker who uses his speed and low center of gravity to cause constant problems for defenders, driving past players to get his team up.

Scienza is not as prolific a goalscorer as Summerville once was for Leeds in the second division, but he is an impressive striker who could add a major threat to Leeds.

The £25m EFL star hasn't scored a ton of goals this season, with seven goals in 39 games, but he's doing better than his xG and could score more goals in a team set to create more chances for him.

He has the individual quality to create a goal for no reason, just like Summerville had during his time at Leeds, and that could make him a valuable asset for Leeds, who often keep games tight and need a moment of magic to book a game.

As well as being a dribbler like Summerville who can lift the team up the pitch, Scienza is a key creator who has produced 21 'big chances' for his teammates in the Championship this season.

Meanwhile, no Leeds player in the Premier League has created more than nine 'big chances' or provided more than five assists, suggesting Farke's side need an injection of creativity.

Scienza, who was described as Southampton's “biggest threat” by journalist Josh Bunting, has the quality to provide the creativity Leeds lack, with his ability to cross and pass down the left wing.

Although he is unproven at Premier League level, the Brazilian's impressive form in the Championship for the Saints suggests that signing him is a risk worth taking for the Whites, who could unearth the next Summerville.