“I checked today” – West Ham star waiting for call, delay labelled “bizarre”

Neither the Netherlands or Suriname have approached West Ham United star Crysencio Summerville about his international status as yet.

That’s according to ESPN commentator Milan van Dongen, via Voetbal Primeur. He reports that he has made enquiries about the West Ham forward this week.

Summerville in the midst of a dramatic upturn of form at West Ham coinciding with the turn of the new year.

He has transformed from a peripheral figure after a difficult first season at the London Stadium into the Hammers’ undisputed star man.

West Ham improvement

He currently has six goals in his las seven games across all competitions became only the fourth player in West Ham’s Premier League history to score in four successive games.

Goals against Tottenham, Sunderland and Burnley have also helped West Ham to secure three wins in five games, lifting them to within three points of safety. It marks a dramatic turnaround and has now raised questions about his international status.

Indeed, Sport Witness covered comments this week urging Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman to get in before it is too late. That is because Summerville is also eligible to play for Suriname.

They are current in a high-profile tug-of-war with the Netherlands for the West Ham star’s international commitment. While the forward has represented the Dutch extensively at youth level, he remains uncapped at senior level.

That’s led former Barcelona coach Henk ten Cate, now leading Suriname, to work hard to convince Summerville to swap. He has already succeeded in a similar pursuit of Leeds United’s Joel Piroe.

No approach yet

Van Dongen has now chased that up, and it seems neither side have approached the West Ham star officially as yet.

“Crysencio Summerville, I just checked today (Wednesday), has not yet received an official offer from either Suriname or the Netherlands. So his options are still open,” he said. This led to surprise from fellow panellist Karim El Ahmadi.

“So he hasn’t been approached by Suriname yet? That’s bizarre. I would have flown there already if I were Ten Cate,” he added.

“You have to take players who are really in form to a World Cup. And apparently, he is in the Premier League, the highest level there is.”