I’m not sure I had Daniel Farke down as an Elvis fan, maybe more of a Die Toten Hosen guy, but he echoed ‘The King’ when he demanded a ‘little less conversation, a little more action’ during his press conference ahead of the Sheffield Wednesday match. But the transfer gods must have been listening because only a few hours later the rumours of Almería forward Largie Ramazani’s move to Leeds as a direct replacement for Crysencio Summerville started to pick up pace.
Born in Brussels, Ramazani moved to London and after unsuccessful trials at Fulham and Chelsea he joined Charlton Athletic's academy. Attracting attention from bigger clubs, he signed a four-year deal with Manchester United at the age of sixteen, but let’s not hold that against him. After impressing with the under-18s, Ramazani signed his first professional contract in 2018, making his senior debut in November 2019 as a late substitute in a 2–1 UEFA Europa League loss against FC Astana.
After rejecting a new deal, he was released in June 2020, signing as a free agent with Spanish Segunda Division club UD Almería. Following promotion to the top tier in 2022, he scored his first La Liga goal in a 2–1 defeat against Real Madrid. On 1 October 2023, Ramazani provided a hat-trick of assists to Luis Suarez in a 3–3 draw against Granada CF. The 23-year-old has made 127 appearances since for Almeria and scored 21 goals.
Ramazani is a versatile forward who can play on either side or through the middle and while he is stronger off his right foot is decent with both. His goalscoring and assist figures may not be anything to scream about, but he has been playing in a struggling Almeria side. He will undoubtedly create chances and get the odd goal in the Championship. Whilst he is being billed as a Summerville replacement it may be Rutter's assists he is more likely to replace, capable of beating a man and finding teammates with a good variety of passes.
With a medial booked for today, Leeds will hope to get the deal completed quickly, tempering some of the anger in the fanbase following the big-name departures from the club. Getting a player with Ramazani’s potential, someone who created a comparable number of chances per 90 minutes as Vinícius Júnior, Antoine Griezmann and Lamine Yamal is a big coup for Leeds.
Daniel Farke will be pleased too, his demand for action answered but there is more work to do if Leeds are to compete at the top of the table this season. Another wing back, a central midfielder and a Number 10 all on Farke’s list of demands, but will the board deliver any more action on the transfer front before the window closes?