Another PL rival now threatens to hijack United’s pursuit of West Ham star – report

Manchester United remain hot on the heels of West Ham United forward Crysencio Summerville, but Arsenal could be plotting to hijack the move. The Red Devils may have invested heavily in the frontline last summer, but they remain light in their attacking department at the moment. Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko arrived at Old Trafford last summer and are all first-team regulars under Michael Carrick. However, the English giants oversaw a mass exodus from the squad in 2025 and now lack adequate depth in attack. Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Rasmus Hojlund have all left United, while Marcus Rashford is unlikely to be reintegrated into the squad. With Carrick expected to compete on four fronts next season, INEOS are now keen to add more options to the frontline. The Red Devils have preferred to target Premier League-proven wingers of late, and a recent report relayed by The Peoples Person has named Summerville as an option. United already hot on Summerville’s heels Summerville established himself as one of the Premier League’s premier wingers last season. The Dutchman is a technical winger blessed with blistering pace, and is a big threat in one-on-one situations due to his elite dribbling ability. Summerville’s work ethic, relentless pressing and tendency to cut inside from the left flank also make him an attractive proposition for his suitors. Last season, the 24 year old registered seven goals and five assists in 34 games across all competitions. Crysencio Summerville Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Premier League3129546-2,484′ FA Cup31211-231′ EFL Cup——- Total3430757-2,715′ Source: Transfermarkt. Summerville could not save West Ham from relegation last season, and the situation has added to speculation regarding his future. A previous report notes that United are plotting a double raid on the Hammers this summer, with Mateus Fernandes also on their radar, though they face competition from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the race. Summerville has already scored two goals and registered one assist in two games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, further endearing him to the Old Trafford hierarchy. However, it now appears that they will also face stiff competition from the Premier League for the Dutch forward. Arsenal enter race for Summerville Foot Mercato confirms PSG’s interest in Summerville but adds that Arsenal have entered the race to sign the player this summer. The report states: “According to our sources, the capital club (PSG) now faces stiff competition from the Premier League: Aston Villa, Tottenham and Arsenal have officially joined the fray.” “Manchester United are also very interested in the player. Faced with this logjam of English heavyweights with colossal resources, the financial deal looks set to be a major undertaking.” The report insists that Summerville’s impressive showing at the World Cup is likely to increase his price tag, adding: “Even before the World Cup began, West Ham were already demanding the tidy sum of 50 million euros to release their player. This base price has automatically risen following his sensational goal against the Japanese national team.” The report points out that Serie A clubs have already left the race owing to the Dutchman’s steep asking price, concluding: “Whilst AS Roma and AC Milan had shown great interest in the Dutchman’s explosive style of play, the fee demanded by the London club is set to dampen Italian enthusiasm.” “The deal already seems out of reach for Serie A clubs. PSG therefore know where they stand: to secure the new Dutch sensation, they will have to get their chequebook out and prove themselves more convincing than the British giants, who are already very keen.” Final Thoughts Summerville matches the age profile of players recently targeted by INEOS, while his Premier League pedigree also makes him an enticing choice. However, United could also be tempted to target a touchline-hugging left-winger like Bazoumana Toure instead of the Dutchman. Featured image Julian Finney via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.