Manchester United's summer recruitment drive has hit a familiar snag. The club's long standing need for a left sided attacker with genuine pace and tr...
Manchester United's summer recruitment drive has hit a familiar snag. The club's long standing need for a left sided attacker with genuine pace and trickery has led them to Crysencio Summerville, the Dutch winger currently plying his trade across London at West Ham. But as any seasoned observer of the Old Trafford machine knows, the path from interest to signature is rarely a straight line.Now comes word from GoalZaza that Marco Silva's Fulham have entered the fray. That is a significant development. The Cottagers have quietly assembled a squad with real tactical flexibility, and Summerville fits their profile like a glove. He offers the kind of direct running and low block busting ability that Silva craves to complement his more methodical build up play. For United, it means they can no longer assume they are the only suitor holding the winning hand. Fulham can offer regular first team football in a stable system, something that might appeal to a player who has already tasted the highs and lows of Premier League football. Chelsea, too, are keeping a watching brief, though their current attacking stockpile makes a move less likely unless there is a significant outgoing.Summerville is a player who thrives in transitional moments. His close control in tight spaces and willingness to drive at a retreating defence makes him a nightmare for tired legs. But the question United must ask themselves is whether he is the final piece of the puzzle or merely a promising piece of depth. With Alejandro Garnacho emerging and Marcus Rashford's form a constant point of debate, the Dutchman's addition would add genuine competition. However, without Champions League football on offer and with the shadow of Financial Fair Play restrictions looming large, Old Trafford can no longer bully their way to a deal. Fulham's interest turns this from a potential stroll into a genuine scrap. Squeaky bum time for the recruitment team.
