Crystal Palace winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has drawn significant interest this summer from clubs like Southampton and Leeds United. Michael Bridge told GIVEMESPORT that Rak-Sakyi is keen on moving to the Saints, even though Palace prefers he goes to the Championship.
Moving to the second tier seems logical for Rak-Sakyi. If he excels on loan at Southampton, Palace would have a ready-made winger for the 2025/26 season. However, this outcome isn’t guaranteed, leaving his career direction uncertain.
Southampton had a £7 million bid for Rak-Sakyi rejected earlier this month, with rumors of a £12 million bid in the works. A loan move to Southampton with a buy option could still happen, though Palace is reluctant to sell one of their top academy talents, especially after former manager Patrick Vieira praised him as “fantastic.”
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’s League One Statistics – Charlton Athletic Squad Ranking
| Stats | Output | Squad Rank |
|———————-|——–|————|
| Appearances | 43 | 2nd |
| Goals | 15 | 1st |
| Assists | 8 | 1st |
| Shots Per Game | 2.1 | 1st |
| Dribbles Per Game | 1.9 | 1st |
| Match Rating | 7.03 | 1st |
Leeds are interested in Rak-Sakyi after losing Jack Harrison to Everton on loan. Despite having Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto, one of them might leave, opening a spot for Rak-Sakyi. However, with Southampton’s clear intentions, it’s understandable why he would prefer a move there.
Bridge: Rak-Sakyi ‘Keen’ But Palace May Not Budge
Bridge stated that Rak-Sakyi wants to join Southampton, but Palace hopes he performs better in the Championship. He said:
“We are told that he would like to join Southampton. But would it be a season-long loan with a permanent, or a season-long loan in general?
“Palace ideally wanted to loan him to the Championship, but Southampton’s interest might change that a little bit, and he would obviously be given more of a first-team opportunity at Southampton than Palace.
“So as it stands, he is keen to join Southampton, but Palace are more keen for him to learn in the Championship.”
Rak-Sakyi has only made a few Premier League appearances after dominating in League One for Charlton Athletic last year. Many players struggle to jump from the third tier to the Premier League, though some, like Dele Alli, have succeeded. However, making this transition could be a challenge for Rak-Sakyi.