Relegation means that West Ham United can forget about mega-money signings as a season of Championship football looms.
The Hammers have been linked with proven Championship talent such as Sydie Peck, Harrison Burrows and Ethan Galbraith, plus the odd rising star from mainland Europe.
See Alpha Toure, Carlos Lopes Rodrigues and Martin Adeline.
Take a look at West Ham’s ins and outs this summer – What deal stands out most to you?
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But a £40 million Argentine? It is fair to say few expected to see West Ham United and Roma’s Matias Soule in the same sentence following relegation.
West Ham United fans cannot understand links with Roma star Matias Soule
According to Eleonora Trotta of Corriere dello Sport, Soule and his representatives have ‘held talks’ with West Ham. Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and Europa League winners Aston Villa are reportedly also in contact.
Even the most optimistic Hammers supporter would have to admit this is a bit of a long shot. Soule is not only valued at £40 million, he also has interest from Champions League-level clubs.
“How in the world can we afford this?” one fan writes on X in response to those Soule rumours.
“If we get this done, then I’ll go personally kiss Daniel Kretinsky,” adds another.
Czech billionaire Kretinsky is set to inject £90 million into West Ham while increasing his share to 43 per cent. Even if there is some truth to those Soule rumours, the prospect of an unwanted frenchie might be enough to convince Kretinsky to leave Aston Villa to it.
“Zero chance.”
Crysencio Summerville to Roma looks unlikely now
Soule scored six Serie A goals in 33 appearances for Roma last season. He was given his first call up by Argentina in 2024, but fell short of securing a spot in Lionel Scaloni’s 2026 World Cup squad.
It is no secret that Roma are long-time admirers of Crysencio Summerville. Amid reports that head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is happy to move on from Soule, it may make sense for the Giallorossi to propose the former Juventus kid as part of a swap deal.
Especially because Roma cannot afford the rumoured £50 million fee West Ham want for Summerville. Soule was linked with West Ham back in 2024, too. So these are not reports entirely out of the blue.
What is the WEIRDEST West Ham transfer you can remember? 😵💫
Surely Faubert to Real Madrid is up there…
From the Argentine’s perspective, though, Champions League football at Villa or Dortmund looks a lot more tempting than midweek trips to Preston, Lincoln or Bolton.
“Regarding Summerville, I simply want to point out that it’s true; Roma had asked for information in the past,” Italian reporter Matteo Moretti said this week on Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube channel.
“But given the type of operation, especially the amount involved, it’s a really complicated operation for Roma.
“In fact I’d almost completely rule it out, because today there are clubs like Manchester United who are coming forward in a more concrete way. So for now, Summerville and Italy are two things that I wouldn’t put together.”
You could say the same about Matias Soule and West Ham, in truth.
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