West Ham’s not so stealthy transfer trick
By all means, use the comments section below to call me an old cynic, but I’m not buying into the most recent Dominic Calvert-Lewin transfer links.
Aside from the fact that the Everton striker doesn’t fit the age and fitness profile West Ham seem to be looking for in a striker, there is also a pattern that seems to be emerging whenever the Hammers feel close to completing the signing of a genuine target.
It may be a crude strategy, but recent evidence suggests that it works. When the Hammers were in something of a transfer stalemate during negotiations for Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Max Kilman, information was leaked that the Irons had in fact turned their attention to French central defender Jean-Clair Todibo.
It may well be that transfer head honcho Tim Steidten retains a genuine interest in the Nice centre-half, but there’s little doubt our scrutiny was used as a transfer strategy to bring Wolves to the negotiating table.
Real Hammers target? Duran is still of interest
So here we are again in a similar situation with West Ham unwilling to match Aston Villa’s asking price for Jhon Duran. I must admit the £35M price tag does seem a bit rich for a player who would be a signing of potential rather than a proven track record. However, I do believe the Colombian is a serious transfer target for the Hammers’ recruitment team, and I doubt they’ve given up yet.
Transfer smokescreen?
I’m quite certain the leaked links with Calvert-Lewin are nothing more than a negotiating ploy. I find it quite difficult to believe the Hammers would allocate a large portion of their transfer budget to a player who is highly likely to be unavailable for half of next season’s fixtures.
Of course, whether I believe it or not is inconsequential. The important thing is that Aston Villa believes the transfer rumour and are brought to the negotiating table, just like their Midland rivals were.
Perhaps what we should be doing is being totally focused on securing our targets and getting our business done early as was the plan. It’s like going food shopping basically if you want the quality beans you buy heinz but if as they are overpriced you then have to go for the Branston or you find yourself in a pickle.. Now I have to go and tend to my pet termite who’s called Clint eats wood. 😂
Just some feedback. The fact you’ve now got this brilliant and easy to use comment mechanism makes me now use C&H so much more brilliant that Gonzo is involved too adds a lot of credibility. Well done guys I know you leave yourself open to ignorant trolls abusing it but hopefully the rest of us can use it for great debate and discussion about our favourite subject in the world. COYI!!!!
Thanks Marc, we do try and patrol the ‘trolls’ – some slip thru but we get them all in the end: Consensus seems to be that having debate and comment is worth the odd idiot posting.
Also left back may bpe one of the following: Leif Davis (& c/bk) / Jaydon Oosterworlde (& c/bk, mid left) / Ryan Sessegnon (Free).
Media also reports Jonathan Tah (long time whu speculation) is now available as alternative for c/bk position.
Duran or boniface as main striker and wahi as our left sided winger would be good ! If we can’t get wahi then reiss nelson from arsenal as backup.We need to get a move on as we also need todibo or Obrien and wan bissaka and walker peters and soule from Juventus. That would be a start !!!!
I’m hoping DCL, Wilson and Duran are all decoys and we sign the Morocco guy or David 🇨🇦
Villa doubling what they paid for him after hardly getting in their side and not ripping up trees is crazy!
Hi Matt, agree that these stories about DCL etc are likely just negotiating ploys: ITK sources claim they are to get Villa to accept ‘only’£30 million. Reckon we are quite close to ‘announcement’ – this week I’d guess.
The value of a player depends on a number of things not just not getting into the side which is hardly surprising when they have Watkins. Most strikers would not displace Watkins.
Doubling what they paid for him is a red herring.
The players contract needs buying out in a transfer and Duran is almost certainly on a longer contract now than when Villa bought him makes him worth more in itself.
He also made thirty five appearances for Villa mainly as sub is a player who has adapted to the premier league which he was not when Villa bought him. There’s less risk now makes him worth more too.
He will clearly have a higher value now than when Villa bought him and they paid £15M plus £3M add ons, £18M. What’s being asked for him is at worst a bit steep, he’s not realistically be going for a large amount less than that.
Hopefully that’s where the Callum Wilson rumours are stemming from.. it’s a bit of a strange one as if they were to put in place a decoy it would be a similar age and stature.
D- do you think our negotiating ploys are that sophisticated?
Hi Martin. Well if we really want cheese and then we are linked with chalk then yes very unsophisticated. Although on some previous windows it has been how we ended up. Go for Mitchy Bat-man end up with Hugil 😄