There’s an old saying ‘the truth will out’ and that seems to have been the case regarding the deal between West Ham and Leeds for Crysencio Summerville.
West Ham expressed their delight at signing Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United.
Understandably so given the 22-year-old was the best player in the Championship last season.
But a deal that is full of promise for West Ham presents Leeds with a very difficult challenge.
It says a lot about the player the Hammers are getting that Leeds boss Daniel Farke admits Summerville is essentially irreplaceable.
Yet Leeds need to replace him quickly and smartly if they are to join West Ham back in the Premier League.
Mystery surrounds West Ham and Leeds deal for Summerville
How much the Elland Road club made and will have to spend doing just that has been an unknown.
The Summerville deal between West Ham and Leeds has been shrouded in mystery.
Leeds made West Ham sign a non-disclosure agreement regarding the fee paid for Summerville. The club confirmed as much in the official statement announcing his departure.
Various theories have been circulating as to why.
One being that Leeds want to hide the fact they did not get a good deal for their best player.
Another that the Yorkshire side don’t want other clubs to know how much money they now have when looking to sign replacements.
Well it seems the game might be up.
And the truth about secrecy between Leeds and West Ham over the Summerville deal will shock fans.
There has been speculation West Ham paid as little as £20m and as much £34m for the Dutch winger.
Truth about secrecy over Summerville deal will shock fans
But now a top level Hammers board source who is close to majority owner David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady has spilled the beans on the move.
Sean Whetstone claims a Leeds source has revealed to him that Summerville’s release clause was £25m.
But, crucially, it could only be activated on the condition it was all paid up front as a lump £25m sum.
That is extremely rare in big money transfers. Most deals are paid in equal instalments over the length of the player’s contract.
Whetstone’s Leeds source says West Ham wanted to pay over four instalments of £6.25m running to July 2027.
But Leeds refused.
Eventually a compromise was reached whereby West Ham agreed to pay an extra £1m – so £26m – but in in instalments plus a further £350,000 in incidental expenses.
This is a shocking revelation on many levels.
West Ham got an absolute bargain by modern standards.
Questions will be asked why Leeds were so desperate to have the money paid in a lump sum. And why they abandoned that clause for the sake of £1m extra.
‘Kinnear key to deal between Hammers and Leeds’
Whetstone previously revealed that former West Ham managing director – and current Leeds United CEO – Angus Kinnear was instrumental in the Summerville deal.
West Ham are said to have made their first enquiry to Leeds when Tim Steidten first arrived last summer.
That was obviously before Julen Lopetegui was appointed.
But the Spaniard clearly agreed with Steidten’s opinion on Summerville.
So West Ham look to have got brilliant value for money in the Summerville deal by modern standards.
Leeds fans may be angry the club did not hold out for more.
Ironically Leeds are now looking to use the first tranche of money to go after a big West Ham target as Summerville’s replacement.
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