It’s a rare occurrence indeed when a transfer bid infuriates both the buying and selling clubs’ supporters.
However, that is precisely what’s happened following West Ham’s £57 million bid for Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran yesterday.
The most confusing issue seems to be that the Hammers—unlike Don Corleone—not only made the Midlander’s an offer they could refuse but one they most certainly would refuse.
As I mentioned in a previous article, my own take is that the transfer was simply to unsettle the Colombian striker, which in itself is not an unusual tactic.
However, I have never seen a transfer bid that has been greeted with more derision by a fan base before. In essence, practically nobody believed it would happen.
Duran’s value is believed to be in excess of £75 million. The irony is that West Ham fans completely understand the club does not have that sort of money. There remains a level of frustration that we didn’t buy him when we had the chance, but most would understand that the striker is now out of our reach.
The problems arise when we are seen to be making transfer bids that are so far short of valuations they will never be accepted. Usually, offers for players generate excitement and a buzz among fans. Unfortunately, yesterday’s transfer bid for Jhon Duran has been received as nothing more than a publicity stunt, and as such, the excitement has been replaced with frustration.
So, we now have a situation where West Ham fans are embarrassed and Aston Villa are insulted—which is far from ideal with the game on the horizon
Afternoon folks, i’m Villa thru & thru but i like West Ham & have a few irons as mates & we were talking about the Duran bid last night up the boozer & we were in agreement that it was a phantom bid from the board & that they did not realistically expect it to be accepted but was done to Gee up the West Ham fans into thinking they were doing some thing in the January window. Since winning a European trophy West Ham have gone backwards & is sad to see but now they have allegedly bid £57 million for a player, that now has to be spent on other players west ham desperately need but will it be or is it easier to spend B***S*** than real money! There’s only 2 weeks of the window left & not that much quality to be had for a decent price in January so West Ham fans & the world will soon see. UTV COYI………..
The biggest insult is to loyal WH fans by Sullivan. Does he really think that making a ludicrous low offer constitutes a real interest or bid? You can’t pretend to be competitive and not look silly. We just don’t like it at all Mr Sullivan
If you think £57 m is low and Villa said it was nothing like the reported number, the first was allegedly £40m at the start of the window.
We aren’t likely to get a first choice striker this window although if we have £57m to spare we could provably pay Johnathan David enough with a lower asking price and big signing on fee
Even cunt is too nice a word for the vile dwarf. Hate him so much
I think enough has been said on the subject….. This club has become the PL laughing stock. Since the move from Upton Park and the huge money Sullivan and the board made, we have seen little return as supporters.
Winning a European cup should have catapulted us to the next level. ‘Del boy’ Sullivan is now the owner of what should be considered a sinking ship. We have gone backwards and he appears to believe that making false statements and comments regarding transfers the fans will believe his ‘attempts’ to sign players. We do not…. We have heard this all before. SULLIVAN out ……BOARD out!!
“The Sullivan Effect” back in full flow.
The man lives in a “bubble” propped up by sychophantic agents and apathetic fans and employees.
No progress possible with Sullivan ar the helm for another 10-15 years because you can be sure he will live to at least 90z
It looks like there are too many people surrounding Sullivan who have their fingers in theses transfer dealings and want their cuts out of these transfer dealings. Also we get the smoke and mirrors from Sullivan when the pressures on from the fan and over hype the alleged price. Villa are saying the bid was no where near 57 million. So Sullivan can say we tried so we move on and get some crock that Salthouse or the other favoured agents Sullivan is friendly with. This club is a complete joke from top too bottom.
As a Villa fan I did find the bid strange. It’s seemed, since the summer, that Villa have been quite clear on what they’ve wanted (Or didn’t want in the case of this window) while West Ham have appeared to think they’re involved in a negotiation.
You guys are in desperate need of a striker and should have taken your chance in the summer, but why mess about with this now when you’ve got less than 2 weeks.
If you have £57m for a striker, great.. spend it. But this does seem very reminiscent of the old Doug Ellis tactic of leaking “big bids” for star names ans then sign Bosko Balaban for 5 million!
I hope for your sake this isn’t the case but with Sullivan in charge, I’m not so sure.
Hard to argue with any of that Mike.
Funnily enough, I had forgotten all about Ellis but you’re absolutely spot on.
Spot on Micky,
Sullivan might not be deadly, like Doug but he is cut from the same cloth in how the fans feel about him and with the low ball tactics to drum up media.
It’s another appalling decision that only adds insult to injury following the last one. That’s talking only of Duran not Lopetegui.
All of our problems are self made ones the decisions are so awful. Just look at us languishing in fourteenth place, out of the cups and seemingly unlikely to significantly better that.
It blights our lives as fans and plain howler decisions are responsible for that, the Lopetegui decision blew our season and the Duran decision gave us Fullkrug that has turned out a disaster.
I don’t even watch the extended highlights any more is how it grinds you down, it’s like supporting a team that only ever scores own goals.