Crysencio Summerville’s year-long goal drought, and praise of his recent performances in a West Ham United shirt, are not mutually exclusive.
Human brains are developed enough to realise two things at once, even if they may appear somewhat contrasting on first viewing.
Crysencio Summerville’s goal return – one in 31 West Ham United appearances, and none since October 2024 – is clearly not good enough for a winger of his talent and cost. But, at the same time, the £30 million signing from Leeds has still been one of the brightest sparks of the Nuno Espirito Santo regime, proving himself capable of being one of the load-bearing pillars in a new era at the London Stadium.
Nuno wants to make the most of Summerville’s talents. Particularly, his ‘very, very aggressive’ approach to taking on opposition full-backs. The message appears to be getting through as well.
Though his drought drags on, Summerville was excellent against Burnley last time out. A trademark mazy run through a forest of defensive legs created Callum Wilson’s opener; a real rabbit out of the hat moment when the Hammers were crying out for a stroke of individual inspiration.
But, as promising as his performances have been following Nuno’s arrival, it may do Summerville some good to have more competition for a starting spot. According to Spanish publication El Periodico de Mediterraneo, Tottenham Hotspur’s forgotten man Manor Solomon may be an option for West Ham when his Villarreal loan spell comes to an end in 2026.
Three years after West Ham first tried to sign the Israel international, could they get him at last? And, not that he needs any more motivation, could links with Solomon, Adama Traore, Tijjani Noslin and Tyrique George provide an extra little kick up the backside for a man whose influence in a Hammers shirt is yet to be reflected in the stats?
West Ham United tried to sign Tottenham’s Manor Solomon once before
Back in 2023, Tottenham signed Solomon on a free transfer from Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk.
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In conversation with Sport5, the winger’s agent confirmed that a number of Premier League clubs had hoped to sign him on the back of a promising but injury-hit loan spell with Fulham that previous season. West Ham were among them.
“In addition to Tottenham, Aston Villa, West Ham, and RB Leipzig wanted him,” Shlomi Ben Ezra said at the time.
Two-and-a-half years later, Ben Ezra would speak out again. He sees no reason why that Villarreal loan spell will be cut short in January, insisting that Solomon is focused on forcing his way into the La Liga side’s starting XI after a mixed start.
But, without an option or obligation-to-buy clause in his contract, the nomadic 26-year-old is likely to go into next summer once again on the lookout for a new home.
“He will be fit after the international break,” Ben Ezra tells Sport5. “It’s not really appropriate to say right now that he’s not doing well. He’s at a great team and I believe he’ll take his place in the line-up later in the season.
“He’s happy there. He’s joined one of the best teams in Spain, he’s happy with the decision. He’s aware of the competition and it only does him good.
“He’s concentrating on football.”
Former Leeds stars Solomon and Crysencio Summerville have a lot in common
The simple fact that Leeds picked Solomon to replace Summerville following the departure of the 2023 Championship Player of the Year highlights the similarities between both men. Two right-footed left wingers who love nothing more than leaving defenders for dead and curling shots into the far corner.
Solomon, during an outstanding loan spell at Elland Road, proved himself to be a more collaborative, team-orientated player than the more-prolific but occasionally-selfish Summerville. The former scored ten fewer goals than the latter – including the last-gasp, final day, title-winning decider at Plymouth Argyle – but assisted three more.
When Kevin de Bruyne is describing you as an ‘excellent player’, as the Manchester City icon did before a clash between Belgium and Israel last season, well, that is quite the seal of approval [Yorkshire Evening Post].
Nuno Espirito Santo knows the importance of squad depth
Nuno worked with a famously small squad at Wolves. But, at Nottingham Forest, he frequently called for new signings to provide competition and depth in key areas, also as recently as August.
West Ham do not have European football to contend with, unlike his former employers of course, though the shortage of real, quality attacking options will still be a concern.
“These boys last season achieved something fantastic. If we as a club don’t help them in terms of numbers, in terms of quality and talent, everything will go,” Nuno said shortly before his sacking at Forest.
“We have ahead of us the Premier League, Europa League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup. You know how many games this means for us. This is the respect that we have to show to our squad. Help them.”
Summerville is currently the only natural left-sided attacker in the squad, bar Luis Guilherme of course. And, though Guilherme looked extremely sharp at Rush Green again this week, Brazilian publication Trivela report that the seldom-seen winger’s representatives are already looking into the idea of a January departure.
Thus, opening up a gap for Solomon.
The man who stepped into Summerville’s shoes at Leeds, providing the rumours are true and that West Ham are planning to pick up where they left off in 2023, could soon be his rival for a starting spot in East London.