QPR, Leeds United and Sheffield United transfer saga takes fresh £15m twist

QPR, Leeds United and Sheffield United target Jesurun Rak-Sakyi was absent from the Crystal Palace squad over the weekend as the transfer race continues to take fresh twists this summer.

The R's are known to be in the market for a winger having seen Chris Willock leave as a free agent this summer, completing a switch to Championship rivals Cardiff City. Rak-Sakyi has been widely touted as the club's ideal replacement and the need for attacking reinforcements was highlighted in a 3-1 defeat to West Brom on Saturday.

QPR face tough competition for any potential Rak-Sakyi deal. Leeds United are known to be interested as Daniel Farke looks to replace Crysencio Summerville after last year's Championship Player of the Season completed a move to West Ham.

It emerged over the weekend that the Whites had sent an impressive £15 million to Crystal Place for the 21-year-old. However, as per transfer specialist Alan Nixon, that was rejected by the Premier League club as they do not want to sell the winger - a similar message had already been sent to Southampton this summer amid reports of a £7 million bid.

A loan deal is the most likely for Rak-Sakyi, who impressed on a temporary stint with Charlton Athletic over the 2022/23 season. It had been believed that Sheffield United were on the verge of finalising a loan deal by offering the player a pay rise but that transfer now appears in question after renewed Leeds United interest.

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

With all the transfer speculation hanging over him, Rak-Sakyi was omitted from the Crystal Palace squad for the side's final pre-season friendly against Nantes on Sunday. The winger had been a part of the Eagles' pre-season preparations thus far, even hitting the back of the net in a friendly against his former side in Charlton Athletic.