I’m surprised that nobody has asked the question – why West Ham have strengthened a recruiting team when there’s no recruiting going on. Kyle Macaulay was imported from Chelsea at considerable expense to be ready for the summer rebuild: However the club’s transfer activity seems – in a nutshell – to be confined to simply treading water waiting for bids to come in for players that nobody wants.
“Years of costly, ill advised deals‘ is how top Hammers journalist Jacob Steinberg explains it in the Guardian today, ‘The recruitment team have been told that little can be done before sales are made:The problem, though, is that West Ham have few sellable assets….
…West Ham need more legs and youth in midfield” (tell us something we don’t know ) and have scouted” Chris Rigg (Sunderland) Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) and [the aptly named] Hayden Hackney [who has ‘West Ham’ written all over him] (Middlesborough).
In addition, Steinberg suggests a new name being watched – Sunderland’s young forward Eliezer Mayenda: 20 years old and with 8 goals in the Championship last year.
The Hammers clearly see something in the young left footed Spanish striker, let us hope it is more ‘potential’ than just a ‘bargain deal’ at under ten million on Transfermarkt.
Whether Potter and Macaulay will be placed in funds to get on and actually make some acquisitions before the onset of preseason – at the moment is anybody’s guess. Potters’ prediction that ‘it was going to be an exciting summer’ looks somewhat unfortunate just at present.
On the positive side – Steinberg claims ‘West Ham are lukewarm‘ on Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale – so it isn’t all bad news. Probably more lukewarm on the £20 million-plus price tag.
No one’s bought anyone yet have they apart from the top few clubs. But early to start the why haven’t we bought anyone bandwagon. We always do. Eventually.
Not sure why this is surprising, Sully waits until all the prime targets are sold to other clubs then buys whatever he can get in the last week of the window.
It would be nice if we changed gears and bought players early but no point in expecting a leopard to change its spots.
Ramsdale alternative Theres a superb goalkeeper down at Leicester City MADS HERMANSEN Wont get better Go take a look Right age to a good solid way to start our rebuild and investment Trust me on this one
I thought Potter only took the reins when he was assured of transfer funds to bring his own players in? Sullivan and Brady out before it’s too late. coyi
It’s a marathon not a sprint but it seems a very amateur approach to a critical transfer window needing to virtually totally rebuild the team.
Months waiting for the window from when Potter came in and you would think detailed plans would be in place.
In fact it seems like “see what happens” waiting for sales to bring money in.
Surely money could be short termed borrowed and repaid later in the window by lowering asking prices if necessary .
As it is we are set up to have to accept low offers because buying clubs know our weakness.
Hopefully it all sorts out it’s a high risk approach with most experienced players gone and our targets will find other clubs if we don’t move. Also quite possible targets won’t fancy the risk of coming to West Ham.
Worrying times for the club.
8 goals in the championship yet the people in charge see him as the player likely to lead the line, these people are either clueless or want us to get relegated