As the new football season approaches, the transfer market is abuzz with activity, and the Championship remains a fertile ground for Premier League clubs seeking fresh talent for reasonable price tags.
Each year, standout performers from England’s second tier catch the eye of top-flight scouts, leading to exciting moves that can shape the futures of both players and clubs.
In this article, we spotlight four players who could make the highly anticipated switch from the Championship to the Premier League this summer.
From emerging young stars to seasoned professionals, these four players have shown the quality and potential to make an impact in the top division.
Read on as we explore their profiles and the Premier League clubs reportedly vying for their sought-after signatures.
Crysencio Summerville
Leeds United agonisingly missed out on promotion back to the Premier League last season, crumbling late on to fall out of the top two before losing the play-off final to Southampton at Wembley.
Leeds are the favourites in the Championship promotion odds 24/25, but the Yorkshire are still in danger of losing their star players, and Crysencio Summerville is on the radar of several Premier League sides.
The Dutch winger scored 20 times and provided nine assists in the Championship last season, attracting interest from Newcastle United, Liverpool and Chelsea — with a fee of up to £40 million reportedly needed to lure him away from Elland Road.
Sammie Szmodics
Another player who made it into the 2023/24 Championship Team of the Season, Sammie Szmodics, isn’t getting any younger, and he has made it clear that he is keen on a move to the Premier League after a standout season for Blackburn Rovers.
The 28-year-old Irish international won the Championship Golden Boot with an impressive 27 goals from attacking midfield, while he set up a further four strikes in 44 appearances for the Ewood Park outfit.
Szmodics has been linked with the newly promoted Ipswich Town and Everton, with Scottish champions Celtic also showing an interest in the £20m midfielder. However, he has two years left on his contract, and that could be a stumbling block in any potential move this summer.
Georginio Rutter
Another player Leeds risk losing this summer as a result of their failure to earn promotion back to the Premier League is Georginio Rutter.
The French forward scored seven times and provided 15 assists for the Whites in 48 Championship appearances last season, which also earned him a coveted place in the Team of the Year.
Leeds have already fended off interest from Brighton and Hove Albion for Rutter this summer, rejecting a £30m bid for the 22-year-old, but it’s believed he will leave this club before the window closes.
Morgan Whittaker
One of the most exciting young players in the Championship last season, Morgan Whittaker, has been the subject of transfer speculation since the winter, with Serie A side Lazio reportedly keeping tabs on the 23-year-old.
The winger signed for Plymouth Argyle for just £1m last summer after a successful loan at Home Park, helping The Pilgrims earn promotion to the second tier, and he carried on his upward trajectory with 19 goals and eight assists to enhance his side’s chances in the Championship betting odds.
While Lazio’s interest is long-term, they could face stiff competition from Premier League sides Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford, and playing the top tier could have more appeal than Italy to Whittaker. Either way, Plymouth are set to make a large profit on their £1m investment.
