- Aston Villa are interested in West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville
- They are one of five Premier League clubs monitoring the situation
- European clubs are also said to be keeping a close eye on developments
Aston Villa are set to rival a host of clubs for the signature of Crysencio Summerville. The West Ham winger’s potential departure in the summer could happen regardless of the Hammers Premier League fate.
TEAMTalk has reported that Tottenham are currently leading the race for the Dutch youth international, with Villa, Bournemouth, Brentford and Everton also in the running.
Marseille, Napoli, Atalanta and Villarreal are too monitoring his situation at the London Stadium.
This season, Summerville has been a shining light in a struggling West Ham side, who are at the heart of a relegation battle. The 24-year-old has been enjoying a purple patch since the start of the year, scoring five goals in his last eight league games.
Having joined the East London club in August 2024 from Leeds for a fee in excess of £25 million, the No 7 has failed to make a significant impact until recently. His performances could be crucial in determining whether the Hammers remain in the top-flight.
Although a summer departure isn’t dependent on West Ham’s relegation, interested parties would be able to negotiate a lower fee than if they stay up. Summerville’s desire to leave may also increase.
How would he fit at Villa?
Given Villa’s lack of out-and-out wingers, the former Leeds player has the ideal age profile and mould to fit in Unai Emery’s system. His speed and hunger to drive at defenders would be extremely beneficial for the Villans.
If you look recently at Jadon Sancho’s displays at right-wing, often when he gets the ball, he looks to take on the opposition, causing Villa to pose more of a threat. At West Ham, the Dutchman does the same on the left.
In Emery’s tactical setup, when a proper winger plays on the left in possession, they are told to hug the touchline to drag the full-back with them, creating space for Morgan Rogers or John McGinn in the 10 to operate in.
Summerville would be perfect for this role and should excel under the Spaniard’s coaching. As seen with a number of players in the Villa squad, the manager can extract the maximum potential out of them.
For the forward, this could be an opportunity to develop into one of the league’s best wingers under a world-class coach. The prospect of Champions League football next season could also sway his decision to move to the Midlands, unlike any of the other English clubs interested.
It remains to be seen if Villa actively pursues a move for him; however, they have the chance to secure a talented player without breaking the bank. They don’t want to miss out on upgrading the squad in what will be a pivotal summer.
