ARTICLESSpurs DragonTottenham Transfer News

Tottenham’s surprise January enquiry for Crysencio Summerville now makes a lot more sense in light of West Ham’s firm stance on the winger’s future, even if it was never going to lead anywhere this winter.

West Ham rejected two approaches for Summerville in January, one from the Premier League and another from Serie A, making it clear the 23-year-old was untouchable for the remainder of the season. Internally, West Ham view him as a key piece of their short-term plans, and the player himself has been happy to stay put and help steady a campaign that has lurched between promise and frustration. The message from the London Stadium was simple: no deal now, no matter the suitor.

That did not stop Tottenham from testing the waters. Spurs made a quiet enquiry earlier in the window, gauging West Ham’s position on a player they value at around £25m. It was a bold move, given Summerville is tied down until 2029 (Transfermarkt) with an option for an additional year, and one that always looked unlikely to progress beyond an initial...