World Cup form proving Man United right to target Dutch livewire Summerville

A good player? Sure. An exciting one? Possibly. But a winger from a West Ham side that had just been relegated hardly screamed statement signing.

The World Cup has changed the mood.

Summerville has emerged as one of the Netherlands' standout performers, helping Ronald Koeman's side top Group G while demonstrating exactly why Old Trafford scouts are reportedly paying attention. More importantly, though, these displays have not come out of nowhere.

The Dutchman finished the club season in outstanding form.

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Featuring Brazil, Mexico, Cameroon, France

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While West Ham's relegation dominated the headlines, Summerville quietly enjoyed an excellent run after returning to full fitness. Seven goals in the second half of the season offered a reminder of the talent that made him Championship Player of the Season with Leeds, and that momentum has carried into North America.

Watching him play for the Netherlands, it becomes easier to understand the appeal.

Manchester United's attack has often lacked variety. Bruno Fernandes can create chances from nothing, while Mateus Cunha provides craft and Bryan Mbeumo offers goal threat from the right, but there have been too many occasions when opponents have been allowed to settle comfortably into defensive shapes. Summerville doesn't allow defenders to relax.

He is a winger in the traditional sense. He wants the ball early, he wants to attack full-backs and, unlike many modern wide forwards, his first thought is to go past people rather than drift inside. That directness gives him something different to the options already at Michael Carrick's disposal.

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There is greater maturity to his game now, too. The raw ability has always been obvious, but at 24 he seems to have found a better balance between entertainment and efficiency. He still plays with freedom, but there is more intelligence to his movement and greater consistency in his end product.

Perhaps that's why these World Cup performances feel less like a breakthrough and more like confirmation. Clubs have been fooled by tournament form before, but this is not a player enjoying a random hot streak. The signs were already there during the second half of last season.

The World Cup has simply introduced more people to a version of Crysencio Summerville that Manchester United seemingly spotted before everyone else.

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