West Ham will look back on key Crysencio Summerville turning point as exit nears

West Ham United are left wondering what could have been with Crysencio Summerville.

After an impressive season at the London Stadium, it is all but certain that the winger will be moving on this summer.

The fears of Nuno Espirito Santo's side would become reality on the final day of the season, with the Hammers relegated to the Championship despite beating Leeds 3-0.

Nuno arrived in East London last September, tasked with rescuing the Irons after a dismal start to the season.

West Ham would improve following the turn of the year, though their tally of 39 points ultimately proved insufficient.

Dutchman Summerville was talismanic in sparking hopes of survival in the first place, leaving staff and fans alike wondering what could have been if not for one key turning point.

West Ham's future could look different if not for Crysencio Summerville incident

Back in March, Nuno's side had firmly established themselves as a side on track for survival.

They still sat in the bottom three, but their performances and form were levels above those of the teams they were chasing.

Following a string of talismanic performances, Summerville would show his worth once again at Craven Cottage, as West Ham put themselves firmly on track for an escape with a 1-0 win against Fulham.

Scoring the only goal of the evening, the hopes were firmly there, with an FA Cup round of 16 clash with Brentford coming next.

The Hammers would win that night too, beating the Bees 7-5 on penalties, but the biggest talking point after would be Summerville, who had to see out extra time despite suffering a calf injury.

Luckily, he would miss just three matches - including the cup quarter-final against Leeds.

But, the Irons would fail to win either of the two league matches without him, with the 1-1 draw against Manchester City potentially converted into a win with his ability on the break, and the 2-0 loss to Aston Villa panning out differently, too.

The fact of the matter is, Nuno's side were in fine fettle with him available, and the three-match unbeaten run following his return suggests just how vital he is, even when not directly contributing to a goal.

Of course, hindsight is a wonderful thing, but West Ham could well have been in a position to build around him in the Premier League next term, if not for the two matches missed back in March.

West Ham must head in specific transfer direction as Summerville exit draws closer

The preparation for next season could have been incredibly different for the Hammers, had just one or two results swung in their favour across the final months.

But, the current reality is something that must be accepted - West Ham are now building a Championship squad.

Summerville had previously shone in the second tier, earning his move from Leeds as a result of his EFL exploits, and it is no surprise given the type of player he is.

With bags of pace, trickery and the energy to always want to cause chaos, he was able to run riot against Championship defences.

As a league, the second tier of English football is well and truly built on pace and physicality, and the abilities of Summerville are something that West Ham must be looking to match with their recruitment this summer.

But with his first World Cup goal already secured this week with the Netherlands, he won't be sticking around.

If the Irons are to get out of the division at the first time of asking, it is imperative that a difference maker out wide is added - effectively replacing Summerville.