Manchester United have stepped up their efforts to secure a deal for West Ham United winger Crysencio Summerville, as the market for attacking players accelerates rapidly following high-profile individual performances at the World Cup.
United have held formal initial discussions regarding the exact conditions required to sanction a permanent move for the highly-rated 24-year-old forward.
Michael Carrick is determined to add genuine depth and pace to his wide attacking positions this summer, identifying the Dutch winger as an ideal fit for his tactical setup.
However, West Ham United are maintaining a firm stance regarding their prize asset.
Despite finishing in 18th place and suffering relegation to the Championship last season, the east London club refuse to offer any discounts on their top players simply due to their altered competitive status.
Summerville enjoyed an impressive individual campaign during the second half of the domestic year, and has convinced the Hammers board to hold out for a bigger valuation approaching £50m.
United are currently attempting to evaluate whether they can successfully finalise the transaction without completely disrupting their wider financial and squad restructuring plans for the summer window.
Thet face stiff competition from domestic rivals, with reports today indicating that Fulham have also made a concrete entry into the race, while Chelsea remain firmly in the background.
Carrick will hope that the allure of playing at Old Trafford and competing in next season’s Champions League can convince the winger to push for a move to Manchester.
The upcoming week will be crucial as United deliberate whether to formalise their interest with an official opening bid that tests West Ham’s resolve, or alter their focus toward alternative targets on their shortlist.