Over half of the Championship wanted to sign Jesurun Rak-Sakyi this summer – and the Crystal Palace winger is starting to show why
There was a lot of speculation about Jesurun Rak–Sakyi’s future in the summer and the Crystal Palace winger is beginning to show why most of the Championship wanted to sign him.
The 22-year-old was hotly coveted from the start of the transfer window and was keen to head out on loan after a frustrating injury-hit 2023-24 campaign with the Eagles.
Rak–Sakyi had just come off the back of a successful first senior loan spell away from Selhurst Park, winning the Supporters’ Player of the Year award at Charlton after scoring 15 goals and picking up eight assists.
Dean Holden, Addicks boss at the time, felt that the Southwark-born attacker was potentially ready to make the step up from League One to the Premier League.
Rak–Sakyi, nicknamed ‘The Magic’ by youth coaches when he was in Chelsea’s academy, was wanted by Leicester, Blackburn and Hull but stayed as part of Roy Hodgson’s squad.
Two serious hamstring injuries limited him to just six Premier League appearances and cut short any real opportunity of showing what he could do in the top flight.
Rak–Sakyi, with a point to prove, hit the ground running in the 2024 pre-season and scored three times in two outings.
He was the subject once again of major interest with Premier League new boys Southampton lodging two permanent bids.
At least 18 clubs in the second tier were keen on Rak–Sakyi with Leeds, Norwich, Burnley and Luton all hoping to draft in the Palace academy graduate.
Leeds were looking at bringing Rak–Sakyi in to replace Crysencio Summerville while Norwich wanted to soften the departure of Jonathan Rowe.
Sheffield United won the race for the player, agreeing a loan deal that could net Palace as much as £4million.
Blades manager Chris Wilder felt that their home crowd could help draw the best out of Rak–Sakyi.
“In our pitch, I said how important Bramall Lane was,” said Wilder, speaking after Rak–Sakyi’s debut in a 1-0 win over Watford on September 1. “There were two £15million bids for him and three-quarters of the Championship sides in for him as well. Part of the pitch was him feeling what he felt today.
“He is going to be a player. There were two big bids for him to Crystal Palace, one out of our division and one out of the Premier League.
“We beat off a whole host of Championship clubs. All the players wanted to come here. And if I was a player, I’d want to come here on days like today as well.”
Rak–Sakyi got off the mark in the Championship in his eighth appearance of the season, celebrating his 22nd birthday with a brace against Luton.
That was the same weekend his parent club extended their Premier League winless run to seven games.
After Michael Olise’s departure, Palace were unable to bring in another left-footed attacker who could help cause the same havoc the now Bayern Munich winger brought to the side.
Eagles boss Oliver Glasner has tinkered with personnel in an attempt to coax an attacking return from his side – Daichi Kamada, Eddie Nketiah and Ismaila Sarr have all featured as the right-sided 10 that is required to cut in on their left foot.
Fellow attacking youngster Matheus Franca has also had his season halted by injury, suffering a broken rib during pre-season.
Franca recently returned to full training but suffered a groin injury, something he picked up first at the back end of last season, in his first week of full training. The Brazilian will now be sidelined for the rest of 2024.
Asher Agbinone, 19, is the next wide player in line to make an impact from the bench if Sarr is starting.
There is a January recall clause included in Rak–Sakyi’s deal and a growing feeling that Rak–Sakyi would be starting for the Eagles, due to their creativity problems, if he was still on their books now.
PICTURE: PA