West Ham learn just how serious Man United are in Crysencio Summerville exit latest
Manchester United's interest in West Ham United star Crysencio Summerville is only growing stronger.
It certainly feels like a case of when, not if, Summerville will leave West Ham this summer.
Relegation to the Championship was always going to come at a cost in numerous senses, with their star players now ripe for the picking of top clubs.
Summerville and Man United have been linked with one another for a number of weeks now, but any deal has been complicated by his involvement at the World Cup.
However, with the Netherlands now out of the competition, the 24-year-old has more time on his hands to focus on where he wants to be playing his club football moving forward.
It's been no secret that Man United are fond of Summerville, but now Hammers fans have learned just how badly the Red Devils want to bring him to Old Trafford.
Man United's Crysencio Summerville fear revealed
Summerville has been touted to a host of top European clubs this summer, with his highly impressive 2025-26 Premier League campaign clearly catching the attention of top transfer chiefs.
But it has been Man United that have been most heavily linked with him, and now we know why.
That's because according to a fresh transfer update from Sky Sports on Thursday, Summerville is claimed to be Man United's number one target to strengthen their left-wing position.
It's again been affirmed that initial talks have been held between the two clubs, with his future now likely to be wrapped up in the next couple of weeks.
The Red Devils aren't sitting comfortably though despite placing him at the top of their transfer shortlist, as the report states that Tottenham are also strongly in play for his signature as well.
Old Trafford chiefs are said to be under no illusion that they could miss out on Summerville if they don't move quickly, and so an official approach from them may well be imminent.
Despite this rival interest, however, there is one historical reason why 20-time English champions Man United should feel as though they're favourites to land Summerville's services ahead of anyone else.
Why Man United should have first dibs on Summerville
When trying to get transfers done, having contacts or links to a club that you admire a player from is always extremely handy for the buying team.
There is likely a resignation inside the London Stadium that it will be impossible to keep Summerville as a Championship side, and so who better to hand him over to than an Academy of Football great.
Indeed, there are few better to have emerged from West Ham's fabled youth system than Michael Carrick.
He would make 159 appearances for the Hammers in five seasons in the first-team, and even stayed with the Irons for the 2003-04 campaign despite having been relegated from the Premier League the year prior.
Carrick may not hold legend status among West Ham fans, but he's definitely a figure who will always be held in high regard here.
The Man United boss has always spoken highly of his time with the Hammers too, and so he will no doubt be hoping to tap into his West Ham heritage to give his team the advantage in this competitive transfer race.