West Ham Manager's Transfer Plans Thwarted by Summerville's Form
In a surprising twist, West Ham United's manager has seen his plans for a £14m Jack Grealish clone winger put on hold, thanks to the resurgence of Crysencio Summerville. The Dutch-born Surinamese winger has been in scintillating form recently, scoring two goals in two matches and silencing calls for the club to pursue a new attacking option.
Summerville's Scoring Burst
After a drought of 25 games without finding the back of the net, Summerville has suddenly rediscovered his scoring touch. His brace against Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup was followed by a standout performance against Tottenham Hotspur, where he was described as 'fantastic' by fans and pundits alike.
This upturn in form has not gone unnoticed by the international stage. Suriname, led by former Barcelona and Chelsea coach Henk ten Cate, is hoping Summerville will follow in the footsteps of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and switch his international allegiance. The winger's recent performances have only increased the determination of the South American nation to secure his services for the World Cup.
Impact on West Ham's Transfer Strategy
West Ham had reportedly been interested in Andreas Schjelderup, a Norway and Benfica youngster who has drawn comparisons to Jack Grealish. The Norwegian international has struggled for starts under Jose Mourinho at the Estadio da Luz, leading to speculation that a move could be on the cards.
However, with Summerville's recent form, West Ham's interest in Schjelderup has reportedly cooled. The Norwegian media outlet NRK reported that Schjelderup has 'disappeared from the gossip columns of late,' suggesting that West Ham's name is no longer linked to the player.
Norway boss Stale Solbakken had indicated that a move for Schjelderup was necessary, stating, 'Schjelderup is in a difficult situation, so I expect they will find a solution to that situation. It is precarious there [at Benfica].' However, with Summerville's resurgence, West Ham may no longer see the need to pursue the Norwegian winger.
West Ham's Other Transfer Moves
While the focus on a Grealish clone winger has been put on hold, West Ham continues to be active in the transfer market. The club has been linked with Adama Traore, with 'Hammers News' confirming that discussions are ongoing between the London Stadium club and the Spanish forward's representatives.
In addition, West Ham is set to sign Keiber Lamadrid from Deportivo la Guaira. The left-winger is expected to join the club's Under-21 side initially, providing depth and competition for places in the future.
There have also been reports of West Ham enquiring about Wolves targetman Jorgen Strand-Larsen, although the club ultimately missed out on his signature after Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe arrived at the London Stadium for a combined fee of £44m.
West Ham's World Cup Hopes
With Jarrod Bowen and El Hadji Malick Diouf already qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, West Ham could have multiple representatives at the tournament. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is set to join them should DR Congo secure their place in the finals, while Mateus Fernandes may yet force his way into the Portugal squad under coach Roberto Martinez.
Tomas Soucek, Callum Marshall, and Mads Hermansen could also be heading to the World Cup, adding to the club's international pedigree. Should Summerville switch his international allegiance to Suriname, he could join them on the plane to the tournament, further enhancing West Ham's global reach.
Conclusion
West Ham's manager may have had to adjust his transfer plans, but the resurgence of Crysencio Summerville has provided a timely boost to the club's attacking options. With the winger's form likely to continue, the pressure is off the club to sign a new Grealish clone in the January window. Instead, West Ham can focus on other areas of the squad and look forward to the challenges ahead, both domestically and on the international stage.
