Manchester United may spend £120 million to sign Summerville and M. Fernandes, but must sell Rashford first! New midfield target revealed

According to a report by David Ornstein, a respected expert from The Athletic, Manchester United are keeping an eye on West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville, who netted an impressive goal for the Netherlands in the opening match of the World Cup.

Despite West Ham being relegated from the Premier League last season, the 24-year-old Summerville remains a notable transfer target, having recorded 7 goals and 5 assists for the club. Manchester United are showing significant interest in him, and if they eventually pursue a left winger, the Dutchman would be a top candidate. However, it must be emphasized that the left flank is not currently a priority position for Manchester United.

The Athletic has revealed that during negotiations with West Ham regarding the transfer of Matheus Fernandes, Manchester United also inquired about Summerville and learned that signing the winger would cost approximately £50 million. Summerville's contract runs until June 2029, so West Ham are unlikely to sell him at a low price, having turned down a £25 million offer from Roma. Nevertheless, United are optimistic that they could negotiate a slightly lower fee if they decide to go for him, such as a £120 million package deal including both him and M. Fernandes.

Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed: "Manchester United are among several clubs interested in Summerville, seeing him as a suitable option for the winger position. They have already been in talks with West Ham over M. Fernandes and have also asked about the conditions of a deal for Summerville. Paris Saint-Germain have also shown interest, looking to sign a winger if Barcola leaves. I will continue to monitor other Premier League clubs, as many teams are keen on him. What is certain is that he will not remain at West Ham or play in the Championship."

Whether Manchester United ultimately sign a left winger largely depends on Marcus Rashford's future and how much they can get for him. Barcelona did not activate the £30 million buyout clause, which officially expired on Monday. If nothing changes, Rashford will return to United. The exact timing depends on England's World Cup performance, likely in late July or early August.

Rashford is still eager for a permanent move or a renewed loan with Barcelona, while other European clubs also have the opportunity to sign him. The 28-year-old United star's contract includes a £40 million release clause, allowing any club other than Manchester City and Liverpool to negotiate directly with the player, bypassing United.

Several Premier League clubs have already expressed interest. Unfortunately, Rashford has stated that if he returns to the Premier League, he will stay with Manchester United to fulfill the remaining two years of his contract rather than join another team. At United, his weekly wage of £325,000 is the highest in the squad, and no other club can offer better terms.

Rashford's annual salary totals nearly £17 million, so if he stays, the likelihood of manager Carrick signing a new left winger, such as Summerville or Everton's Iliman Ndiaye, is close to zero. The Red Devils have also been linked with Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, but his price exceeds £80 million, meaning even selling Rashford might not be enough to afford him.

Summerville is a versatile attacker but primarily operates as a left winger. Standing at 172 cm, he is not tall but possesses great speed and favors cutting inside from the flank to shoot at the far post, a technique he showcased in the goal he scored against Japan in the World Cup.

Statistically, Summerville's peak came during the 2023/24 season with Leeds United, where he scored 19 goals and provided 9 assists in 43 matches, earning the Championship Player of the Year award. At that time, Summerville rarely suffered injuries, but he has been plagued by fitness issues at West Ham, experiencing three injuries over two seasons, with the longest absence being 247 days due to a hamstring problem.

Before the World Cup, Summerville had only made 2 appearances for the Netherlands, but if he continues to perform well, he could attract more top clubs who believe he has the ability to compete at the Champions League level. However, it must be reiterated that Manchester United's primary focus remains on midfield reinforcements. In this area, Carrick has only secured the £39 million signing of Ederson so far, which is far from sufficient.

Elliott Anderson was always Manchester United's primary midfield target, but after seeing Manchester City's bid of over £120 million rejected by Nottingham Forest, the Red Devils decided to back off. M. Fernandes, 21, is currently United's key operation target. After contacting his agent Jorge Mendes, the club knows there are no obstacles regarding personal terms, with the main issue being how to reduce West Ham's asking price of over £80 million.

Manchester United have also explored Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, who is reportedly available for sale this summer for around £60 million. However, Bournemouth insist that Scott is not for sale and are attempting to extend his contract, which currently runs until 2028. Six years ago, Scott was playing for amateur side Guernsey FC. Now 23, if he signs a new deal, it will include a release clause of approximately £75 million.

Other midfield rumors include familiar names like Carlos Baleba, Sandro Tonali, and Adam Wharton, but interest in them has recently cooled significantly. According to The Athletic, Fulham midfielder Berge is also being scouted by Manchester United, and he has the chance to impress scouts during his first World Cup appearance.

In 2024, Berge moved from Burnley to Fulham for a transfer fee of £25 million. In fact, Manchester United had considered him as early as 2020 when he arrived in the Premier League from Norway to join Sheffield United, with fans at the time jokingly suggesting he replace Paul Pogba!

However, the prerequisite for Manchester United signing of a third midfielder by Manchester United depends on the sale of Uruguayan international Ugarte, who is also participating in the World Cup. The club hopes he can attract more buyers.

Manchester United are keen to sign a new left-back and have a strong interest in Lewis Hall, but Newcastle United are not willing to sell. If a left-back cannot be acquired, the possibility remains that United might choose to strengthen the left wing instead and let Patrick Doku continue as the backup left-back,backup left-back, with the Danish international can also play on either flank as a winger.

Another option is to sign a backup striker as a competitor for Sesko, but this would require selling Joshua Zirkzee. Manchester United are open to listening to offers for him, with Serie A clubs showing interest, but the 24-year-old Dutch striker seems reluctant to leave.

Manchester United have explored the transfer of Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow, who will become a free agent this summer. Sam Johnstone is another option, with two years remaining on his contract with Wolves. However, both arrivals depend on United offloading their current goalkeepers: Andre Onana, Altay Bayindir, and Radek Vitek.

Onana will return to Carrington next month after his loan spell at Trabzonspor ends. Club president Ertugrul Dogan has expressed a desire to re-sign the 30-year-old Cameroonian goalkeeper, with no competition from other interested teams. Bayindir also wants to return to the Turkish Super Lig to play as a starter, while the 22-year-old Vitek is unwilling to remain on the bench. He hopes to next season be loaned out or even permanently transferred to a top Championship club or a mid-to-lower Premier League team.