Fabrizio Romano has dropped a potentially devastating update involving West Ham United after a clear leak from a star player’s camp.
West Ham fans took their frustrations out on Fabrizio Romano during the summer transfer window.
The world renowned transfer insider had broken news that Lucas Paqueta wanted out of West Ham on the eve of the new season.
That sparked claim and counterclaim over the validity of Romano’s information.
Especially when Paqueta ended up staying at West Ham amid interest from Aston Villa, celebrating a goal at Forest on deadline day by making it clear he was going nowhere.
Romano proved right about Paqueta wanting out of West Ham
Romano has always been adamant that Paqueta wanted out of the London Stadium in the summer.
He was proved right when the January window rolled around as the Brazilian demanded to leave West Ham for his boyhood club Flamengo.
How will you remember Lucas Paqueta? 🤔
A graphic showing Lucas Paqueta's all-time statistics for West Ham.
Credit: Getty Images/Sebastian Frej/MB Media
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After a three-week saga, the 28-year-old was sold to the Brazilian giants for £36.5m, abandoning West Ham when they needed him most as they fight to stay in the Premier League.
Paqueta was not the only high profile Hammer linked with a move away in January, though.
Crysencio Summerville celebrates after scoring for West Ham against Sunderland.
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Crysencio Summerville has arguably been West Ham’s best player of late.
If the Hammers are to have any chance of staying up, they will need the flying Dutchman to maintain his superb form.
Summerville was linked with moves away to Germany and even Spurs last month.
West Ham insisted the former Leeds man would not be sold as the claims were completely rubbished.
But now Romano has made a devastating new West Ham claim after a leak from the star’s camp.
Romano makes devastating new claim about key West Ham star
The respected transfer insider’s update is likely to raise serious concerns in east London, especially in light of the stories that were doing the rounds over the last month.
If West Ham are to survive, Summerville will be key.
Summerville does something only three Hammers have done before! ⚽⚽⚽⚽
What do YOU think sparked his goalscoring run?
West Ham United's Dutch striker #07 Crysencio Summerville celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on January 17, 2026. West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen celebrates after assisting his side's first goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Sunderland at London Stadium on January 24, 2026 in London, England. Diafra Sakho of West Ham celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at White Hart Lane on February 22, 2015 in London, England. TONY COTTEE OF WEST HAM UNITED CELEBRATES AFTER SCORING HIS TEAM's THIRD GOAL IN THEIR 3-0 VICTORY OVER WIMBLEDON IN A PREMIERSHIP MATCH AT UPTON PARK.
And if the Hammers do manage to pull off Great Escape, the big hope is that the likes of Summerville will stick around and have this young, new-look side built around them.
The bad news for West Ham fans, though, is that Romano says the rumours in January were not idle speculation.
Crysencio Summerville during West Ham United v Sunderland - Premier League
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
In fact, he expects Summerville to push to leave the Hammers in the summer with a move on the cards.
According to Romano, West Ham rejected two offers from the Premier League and Serie A for Summerville in January.
The Italian reporter did say West Ham’s board categorically insisted Summerville was untouchable in January.
He also makes it clear Summerville himself – unlike Paqueta – was happy to stay and help West Ham try to avoid relegation.
But, ominously, Romano says ‘the summer will be different’ and Summerville is expected to be one to watch in June with ‘several clubs keen’.
🚨🇳🇱 West Ham rejected two approached from Premier League and Serie A from Crysencio Summerville in January.
Seen as untouchable for this season + player happy to stay and help West Ham but summer will be different.
Expected to be one to watch in June with several clubs keen. pic.twitter.com/rZz2UT1U88
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 4, 2026
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Hammers must survive to have any chance of keeping Summerville
It is clear West Ham simply must stay up if they are to have any hope of keeping Summerville in the summer.
But it seems they will have a fight on their hands to do that even if they do somehow turn around what is essentially a seven point gap on Forest or Leeds.
To Summerville’s credit he did not push to abandon West Ham with other clubs sniffing around.
While Paqueta’s desperation to leave was driven by the two-year FA spot-fixing ordeal, there is no hiding the fact he left the club in a very awkward situation and poor bargaining position when full focus should have been on helping the club’s battle against the drop.
It appears the summer will see Summerville’s loyalty tested further, though, even if the Hammers stay up.
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