Report: Newcastle must now pay £40m to land Championship Player of the Season after missing out on promotion

After Leeds United failed to secure promotion back to the Premier League via the play-offs on Sunday it became inevitable that their biggest stars would be linked with moves away.

We wrote after the game that Newcastle should potentially look into deals for Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Sommerville as their two young stars with bags of potential.

Gnonto didn't have the greatest of seasons after bursting onto the scene while Leeds were in the Premier League, but at just 20 years old and already a full Italy international, he's still definitely one to keep an eye on.

However, according to The Shields Gazette, it's Sommerville who Newcastle have their eyes on right now.

Somerville has had an outstanding season for Leeds

The 22-year-old scooped the Championship Player of the Season after a fantastic campaign which saw him click 21 goals and 10 assists.

However, that form also alerted some of the Premier League's top clubs and if Newcastle are to try and sign the Dutchman, they're going to have to fight for him.

Leeds United have to raise around £100million this summer after missing out on promotion so players like Gnonto and Sommerville will be on the menu for hungry clubs, but Leeds won't let them go on the cheap.

Leeds will demand around £40million for Crysencio Sommerville

It is being reported that it could take around £40million to tempt them into selling Sommerville, and with clubs like Chelsea, Aston Villa and Liverpool circling along with Newcastle, that price could rise in a bidding war.

£40million doesn't sound beyond Newcastle's reach this summer, but while Sommerville would be an excellent signing, he is predominantly a left winger which is probably Newcastle's strongest area, it would therefore make more sense for us to look at his right-sided counterpart, Gnonto, however Somerville can play on the right as well, much like Anthony Gordon, so that versatility could also be useful.

Again, though, with Champions League clubs swirling around Sommerville, Newcastle would do well to convince him to join this season, but we'll have to wait and see.