There was a point – more than one, in fact – when I believed Adama Traoré would be a good signing for West Ham United.
Once upon a time under David Moyes, I believed he would be the perfect foil when Michail Antonio was unavailable. The team were never the same when Mikey was out, and I always suspected Moyesie would do with Traoré what he did with Arnie and Antonio… turn him into a striker.
More recently, I thought it would be a good idea because he was fast, free, and the manager (Nuno) wanted him. It felt like a risk-free transfer that would keep the manager happy, while West Ham gained some much-needed pace off the bench. Lovely.
However, much has changed in the last couple of weeks to change my mind and, at the same time, the transfer talk seems to have ceased.
Traore is out of contract in the summer but Fulham still want a £7m fee
From Freebie to £7m Gamble
Firstly, Traoré is no longer free. West Ham were believed to have agreed terms with the player, who was keen to join his old Wolves boss at the London Stadium. With only six months left on his contract and out of favour at Fulham, the Cottagers seemed happy to let him depart as long as the Hammers picked up the wages.
That convenient arrangement appears to have ended when a freebie became a £7m transfer, with West Ham’s top source telling Claret & Hugh: “They smell blood and have moved the goalposts.”
The second issue is that I’m no longer sure indulging Nuno with his favourite players is a good idea. Why? Because I doubt he’ll be in the West Ham hot seat much longer.
I’m fully aware club sources have called “poppycock” on Jacob Steinberg’s report that Nuno is under threat, but I don’t believe them. Lose to Spurs and I think he’s done. For that reason alone, I’d leave Traoré well alone.
Let’s be fair, we’ve yet to ascertain how well Nuno spent the last £47m, and let’s just say I’m far from convinced. So I’m glad the Traoré transfer talk has dried up for now. Because if West Ham do have anything left in the kitty, it might be wise to wait before spending it on a manager who might not be here in two weeks.
I agree Gonzo, Moyes had that knack of converting wingers to strikers (just as well with our record in buying strikers!), but I don’t think Nuno has the same managerial skills. I wasn’t keen on Traore, he always seemed to be that typical bad West Ham signing that we had somehow dodged. I am concerned on us having enough wide options though; Guilherme has gone, Earthy on loan (big mistake) if Summerville gets injured again or doesn’t regain his form, we are very short in that area. Teams in relegation battles always get bad luck with injuries as well.
Spot on about Traore, a big bullet well dodged. We do need a centre back though, not sure we will sign one of the quality needed to improve things (It’s not Pinock). I actually think spending more money and likely old or poor quality players is pointless. Appointing a new interim manager is likely to be more beneficial
Can we please get a coupe of fit for purpose defenders please , all this talk of strikers, wing backs , wingers even midfield but nothing for the defence , where I might add we desperately need.
Our club is a joke
Correct me if I’m wrong but as far as I know we still haven’t brought in a capable central defender. If we don’t then the rest of the campaign will be like spending 6 months on a leaky boat. Ok, maybe 5 months. Anyway, does anybody know where we can find another Craig Dawson?
We need one if not two CBs regardless of who the manager is. A good CB is a good CB, regardless of who the manager is.
By resorting to the can-kicking which typifues everything West Ham under this inept board, we’re digging our own grave, if not already dug.
We need CBs NOW, not in a week, at the end of the month, by which time our furure would have been sealed through inaction.
Nothing could be more ‘West Ham’ under this pitiful board than spending big on two unproven forwards, not addressing the defensive weakness which arguably has had more impact on our current plight than anything, whilst contemplating or sanctioning the release of Wilson, Earthy and Marshall. It’s a condensed version of what got us into this mess in the past 3 seasons and why professionally run clubs are leapfrogging us at pace.