'Deal done' - QPR and Leeds United beaten to Premier League transfer coup

QPR and Leeds United are to be beaten to the signing of Crystal Palace youngster Jesurun Rak-Sakyi by Championship rivals Sheffield United as the ongoing transfer debacle comes to a close.

Football Insider reports that the Blades had agreed a deal with the player and the club to bring the 21-year-old to Bramall Lane on a season-long loan deal. That would represent a major coup for the recently relegated side with a long list of second tier sides battling to bring the player in on a temporary deal.

The R's have already enjoyed a busy summer of incomings but are still in the market for a winger having lost Chris Willock as a free agent this summer. The 26-year-old, who has since joined Cardiff City, made 39 appearances in the league last time out.

Rak-Sakyi had emerged as a target with Leeds United and Watford also named as potential suitors by The Yorkshire Post. Premier League outfit Southampton were also said to be weighing up a £7 million offer to bring the rising star to the south coast on a permanent deal.

It had already emerged this week that Sheffield United were willing to offer Rak-Sakyi a pay rise in a bid to emerge as frontrunners in a transfer race. That appears to have clinched the deal.

The winger is highly thought of at Crystal Palace and has been involved in pre-season action for the first team, hitting the back of the net against Charlton Athletic. Rak-Sakyi's last loan spell was a successful stint with the Addicks during the 2022/23 campaign.

Sheffield United have already beaten competition to the signings of Alfie Gilchrist, Harrison Burrows and Kieffer Moore this summer but are now poised to lose forward Will Osula to Newcastle United.