Roma’s Summerville Stance Plays Straight Into West Ham’s Hands

By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)

It is indeed fascinating to read that Crysencio Summerville‘s biggest reported suitor, Serie A side Roma, will not pay any more than €40 million to sign the winger.

It’s an interesting stance from the Italians and one which, I would suggest, doesn’t ordinarily result in signing too many footballers.

Perhaps Roma haven’t yet received the memo that the West Ham hierarchy do not need to sell players at discounted prices.

Personally, I’d quite like a new Mercedes.

I doubt me walking into the dealership and declaring I won’t spend more than £5,000 would prove a particularly successful negotiating tactic.

Where Have All The Other Bidders Gone?

It is, however, interesting to see how the reported list of suitors has changed over the past week.

Not so long ago, Manchester United were supposedly preparing a bid, which seems to be what they’ve spent most of the summer doing without actually making a concrete offer for any West Ham player.

Arsenal were also credited with an interest, along with Liverpool and several European heavyweights.

Yet here we are in the middle of July and, seemingly, the list has been reduced to Roma and Al Hilal.

West Ham Should Stand Firm

Whilst I’m realistic enough to understand that, following relegation and an impressive World Cup, Crysencio Summerville is likely to leave, that calculation changes if the quality of the interested clubs declines and nobody is prepared to meet West Ham’s valuation.

One thing the new West Ham ownership did particularly well was holding out for their asking price on Mateus Fernandes.

If, as now appears to be the case, nobody is prepared to match the club’s £50 million valuation of Crysencio Summerville, then perhaps it is time to flex those muscles once again and insist he remains at the London Stadium.

There’s no doubt Roma would represent a step up from Championship football.

But a bid worth a little under £34 million simply isn’t enough to persuade Nuno Espírito Santo or the West Ham hierarchy that it’s a deal worth doing.

For that sort of money, I’d much rather keep Crysencio Summerville and give him every opportunity to help fire the club straight back into the Premier League… something I’d expect to be a formality if the winger can be retained.