Incoming business was always going to take the headlines this summer because of the rebuild Leeds United had on their hands, but three of the most important signatures of the summer were already in the building. If the Whites are to make a success of this Leicester City model Andrea Radrizzani has spoken about, they need to back their youth recruitment, hone it and only sell it at maximum value.
Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood and Crysencio Summerville are only on the fringes of the levels many believe they will go on to reach in their careers. The three 20-year-olds arrived in the summer of 2020 and as the scouting team hoped, they are now slowly but surely establishing themselves in the senior squad at Elland Road.
Tying that trio down to new contracts was immensely important this summer. Those deals send a message to prospective suitors that these players and their club are very happy with one another, so you will have to pay an exorbitant amount of money to even tempt them away from West Yorkshire.
