Every manager or technical director, it seems, sticks with what they know when recruiting players to their own side: Nils Koppen seems no different in that respect. He’s already headed to Scotland for his first recruit from north of the border, with the successful capture of Glasgow Celtic’s midfielder Arne Engels for a Championship record fee of £22 million.
The midfielder should, all being well, be making his debut as a Hammer this afternoon.
Reports last week suggested Koppen plans to repeat the exercise with another raid on the Scottish Premiership for a new centre back to bolster West Ham’s porous defence. Today’s Glasgowworld.com confirms that the Hammers’ interest in defender Emmanuel Fernandez appears genuine:
“West Ham United ready to ‘hijack’ £21m transfer for Rangers ace
West Ham United are reportedly ready to meet Rangers owners 49ers Enterprises’ huge cash demand for a current Ibrox star….
Bundesliga heavyweights Bayer Leverkusen are said to be most advanced in talks over a deal with Rangers for Emmanuel Fernandez but the 49ers are keen to gain £21m.
Fernandez- still linked with a West Ham move even this late in the window
That’s a fee West Ham reportedly have no issue spending on the centre-back and they are ready to swoop in for a ‘hijack’ attempt ahead of the window’s final full week.”
Few West Ham fans would disagree with the need to bring a new centre back to east London with the Mavropanos – Kilman show last weekend looking so fragile and no third front line option in place within the squad.
However, merely sticking with tried and familiar players from Koppen’s old days at Rangers seems a tad myopic: There are far better players at cheaper prices within the Championship – provided of course that West Ham have been out scouting this summer.
The news that the Hammers do indeed plan another acquisition will be something of a relief but with only one week remaining in the window nobody is under any illusions about the club’s ability to get a deal over the line when the Engels negotiations seemed to last about five weeks. Especially since the Hammers till need several ‘incomings; to replace their already departed squad members.
Sounds like a crazy last week beckons.
My Rangers supporting mates tell me he’s a lump very much in the Killman mode and they never knew why they paid £2mm for him. Came good in one season but has regressed back to a big static lump. Advised to stay away.
Have we really got £20m to spend anyway? Good point about the scouting though, so far we have got 4 in from the prem, 1 from the scottish prem and 1 who was here already. Didn’t we recently recruit someone for their lower league knowledge? Time to report in!
if we are willing spend that why not drop 25mill on harwood bellis?
can’t be buying players from the Scottish league, it’s a poor league, below the championship level most of the time.
20m gets you the best in the championship,