West Ham now expect to wrap up late deal to sign Summerville upgrade

Looking down the relegation barrel, it will be fascinating to see what West Ham United do before the end of the January window.

It looks like there could be one big exit before the window closes in the next couple of weeks.

The Hammers’ rivals in London, Tottenham Hotspur, are said to be interested in signing winger Crescencio Summerville, although it is not yet clear whether he will be allowed to leave the London Stadium.

Reports suggest that an approach has already been made by the Lilywhites, who could look to seal the shock move for a price tag of around £25m. This comes days after he scored the winning goal against them.

If Summerville leaves, the Hammers will need a replacement, and it’s possible they have someone lined up.

West Ham is expected to conclude the deal next January

There certainly appear to be some options for West Ham if Somerville leaves the club before the winter window is over. One name has already arrived in east London, with a deal being sealed for Venezuelan winger Keiber La Madrid.

However, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side may opt to sign another player as well, one with Premier League experience instead.

According to a report by TEAMtalk, they are expected to sign Fulham winger Adama Traore, who could move to London before the month is out.

This looks like this would be an obvious deal for West Ham to get over the line. The Spaniard’s contract expires at the end of the season, and he will not sign a new contract.

This means the fee will not be very high, with the east Londoners offering £7m last month.

How does Traoré compare to Somerville?

Arguably one of the most important things when fighting relegation like West Ham, is having players with Premier League experience in the team. Traoré has that in abundance, having made 262 top-flight appearances so far.

However, this season, the 29-year-old has struggled for any sort of consistency in the Craven Cottage side. He played 15 matches, playing just 262 minutes, the equivalent of three full 90-minute matches. He was gone without registration or assistance at that time as well.

However, if there is one coach who knows how to get the best out of a powerful winger, it is Nuno. Traoré played 131 matches under the Portuguese coach, more than anyone else.

With 28 goal contributions, he achieved the best success rate of his career in the final third under Nuno as well.

This goal highlights what the Spaniard can bring to West Ham at his best. Speed, strength and honesty are Traoré’s three main attributes, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig once describing him as a winger’s ‘monster’.

If he moves to east London, he could be a suitable replacement for Summerville. It has been an up and down campaign for the Dutch winger, as he has registered one goal and three assists in 17 appearances.

It is a far cry from his best season in the top flight of English football, in which he scored and assisted seven times for Leeds in 2022/23.

Well, comparing that campaign to the Premier League’s Player of the Year, 2019/20, shows why the last man was promoted.

For example, the Spaniard’s 1.7 chances created and 11.7 duels won per 90 minutes far exceeds Somerville’s 1.1 chances created and 6.4 duels won per match.

If West Ham can get close to this version of Traoré, they will almost certainly get an upgrade for their Dutch winger. In fact, this could already be considered the case, with his Premier League experience being crucial in the relegation battle.

The fact that Nuno is in charge of the Hammers is also important. The Spanish star played his best football while in charge at Wolves.

If he can help him rediscover his best form, this £7m deal could be perfect for the Hammers.

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