Why Newcastle United must act fast to hijack West Ham's stalling attempts to sign £40m star winger

West Ham are continue to drag their feet in their pursuit of signing the Championship Player of the Season for a fee of £40 million. Last season, Summerville scored 19 goals in 43 Championship games. He also impressed when Leeds were in the Premier League, being essentially their most important player as they fought hard before going down.

According to a report on talkSPORT, West Ham are on the verge of pulling out of the race for the Leeds winger, and it is clear that the Hammers are either not that keen on him or believe the price is simply too steep.

With the Hammers faltering, Newcastle United could be handed an ideal signing opportunity. With the aim of securing qualification back to Champions League football next season, Summerville is the kind of signing Eddie Howe should be pushing for. Aged just 22, there is so much potential that he could go on to be one of the best signings, and there is clearly the will and skill there to achieve that from the player.

Then there is his incredibly underrated versatility, which allows the manager to deploy him in various positions. His ability to play out wide and through the middle means he can cover for injured players and allow the manager to make in-game changes that he just could not do last season.

One of the reasons the Magpies eventually missed out on European football altogether was that they had too many players on the treatment table for large parts of the campaign. The disappointment was visible as they desperately tried to keep up with the fast-paced European football and finishing in the top four, so squad depth is something they will need to have if they’re going to get back to the level they expect.

It’s also an easy decision to make, similar to the one they got with Anthony Gordon, in that Summerville already knows what it feels like to play in the Premier League, so he would not need a massive amount of time to get used to it.

Also, considering Summerville's age and potential, he represents a sound financial investment even for the reported £40 million. If he continues to develop and impress, his market value could increase significantly, providing Newcastle with either a valuable asset for the future or a profitable sale option.

He really is a signing that offers many reasons for fans to be excited about too, and he comes in with a point to prove. When he first burst onto the scene, many people tipped him to move to a bigger club quickly. Even though that hasn’t happened straight away, a move to Newcastle will be seen as a massive upgrade and one that he needs to prove he can succeed at.

Normally, when you want to sign a player, you look at his work rate, and clearly, Summerville is a hard worker, so he would also fit into the hardworking style and culture that Howe has created since he took over the Newcastle job. For the fee, the player’s age, and experience, this is the kind of signing that should work for both parties.