Manager backs West Ham transfer for £14m Jack Grealish clone – but Summerville has ruined it
With Jarrod Bowen and El Hadji Malick Diouf having qualified already, West Ham United should have at least two representatives at the 2026 World Cup.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka will have a seat on the plane, too, should DR Congo beat either Jamaica or minnows New Caledonia in March’s play-off. Mateus Fernandes may yet force his way into the Portugal squad – head coach Roberto Martinez is a fan of the former Southampton schemer – while Tomas Soucek, Callum Marshall and Mads Hermansen may also be World Cup-bound.
Ditto, Crysencio Summerville.
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Suriname are hoping the Dutch-born Summerville ‘does a Wan-Bissaka’ and switches his international allegiance.
The winger’s long-awaited return to form at club level will only increase the determination of Suriname’s one-time Barcelona and Chelsea coach Henk ten Cate as he looks to win over West Ham United’s resurgent number seven.
After 25 games without a goal, Summerville has now scored two in two. An upturn which may have knock-on effects for another winger whose World Cup involvement is yet to be confirmed; Norway and Benfica youngster Andreas Schjelderup.
Norway boss Stale Solbakken would love Andreas Schjelderup to join West Ham United
West Ham reportedly held discussions with Schjelderup earlier in the January window, per Gianluca Di Marzio.
The Norwegian has struggled for starts under Jose Mourinho at the Estadio da Luz. A situation his head coach on the international stage is hoping to see change before the deadline in a fortnight’s time.
“Schjelderup also has to change clubs,” Stale Solbakken tells NRK. “Schjelderup is in a difficult situation, so I expect they will find a solution to that situation. It is precarious there [at Benfica].”
Those West Ham links with a player who compares himself to Jack Grealish emerged before Summerville ended a 14-month goal drought against Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup.
Summerville was ‘fantastic’ in that Tottenham triumph on Saturday, too, even if Nuno Espirito Santo is demanding ‘much more’ from a forward who still has a lot to prove following his £30 million transfer.
It may be no coincidence, then, that Schjelderup has disappeared from the gossip columns of late. Well, in conjunction with West Ham, anyway. Serie A outfit Parma continue to be talked up as his most likely destination.
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Oscar Bobb’s Fulham switch should free up Adama Traore exit
Another of Solbakken’s forward options, Oscar Bobb, is reportedly likely to swap Manchester City for Fulham to the tune of £35 million. This may have knock-on effects at the London Stadium, too. Hammers News can confirm that West Ham and Fulham will continue those Adama Traore discussions over the coming days.
Interestingly, West Ham are set to sign Keiber Lamadrid from Deportivo la Guaira as well. Another left-winger, like Summerville and Schjelderup, Lamadrid is expected to represent the Hammers’ Under-21s initially.
“With Schjelderup and Bobb, it goes without saying that they need to have a good chat with their employer,” adds Solbakken, whose star-studded frontline includes Erling Haaland, Alexander Sorloth, Jorgen Strand-Larsen and Antonio Nusa.
“We have a very good dialogue with City and fully trust what they tell Bobb. I have faith that Bobb and Pep [Guardiola] will figure it out together.”
It is no secret that West Ham enquired about Wolves targetman Strand Larsen the other side of New Year. That was before Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe both arrived at the London Stadium, a combined fee of £44 million reportedly less than Wolverhampton Wanderers’ asking price.
Former technical director Tim Steidten wanted RB Leipzig whizzkid Antonio Nusa, too, during his time in the English capital.
“I’m going with Antonio Nusa,” Steidten told Sky Germany a few months back. “To be honest, I would have liked to bring him to West Ham myself.
“When he’s fit, he has enormous potential and is an outstanding player.”
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