Claret and Hugh’s article earlier suggesting Graham Potter has told the board he doesn’t want to buy a striker this season is open to all sorts of tantalising and convoluted interpretations. Plenty of opinions suggest that it’ll simply be ‘put out there’ to soften the fans up for the ‘inevitable’ news that the club are saving money by re-signing Michail Antonio on a short term deal or bringing in another Premier League free signing like Dominic Calvert Lewin.
As an alternative hypothesis, on limited funds, it may well be that Potter has had to prioritise and in my opinion he’s done the right thing looking to upgrade the awful Hammers midfield. Without pace, ball carrying ability or creativity – which as we all saw was sadly lacking last season – no striker worth his salt will get a sniff. If West Ham cannot ‘fix’ the transition from defence to attack then there would be no point having Messi himself upfront: He’d not get a sniff.
So stories that continue to link West Ham with ball carrying, attacking midfielders such as todays’ givemesport.com piece claiming :
“West Ham United could look to complete a move for Shakhtar Donetsk star Georgiy Sudakov in the coming weeks, according to reports ….. stating that the Hammers have ‘held talks’ with the ‘exceptional’ star, who is keen to move to the London Stadium.”
Could well be close to the truth: Potter cannot make the Kudus money stretch to more than a couple of signings even with payments spread over three years: So a goalkeeper and a pacy attacking midfielder like Sudakov or Jashari maybe as good as it gets.
And I’ll still not be surprised if a late, free transfer of a Calvert Lewin – type doesn’t rock up to training before 1st September – at which point we will all be supposed to breathe a sigh of relief. Cynical? Me?
I see why Potter is interested in Sudakov and why he appeals so much, really clever and intelligent No 10 individually skillful with an eye for a pass. His vision and skill would suit Fullkrug and Bowen so would definitely prefer him to any of the other attacking midfielders we’re looking at. Kudus rarely looked up and more often than not just ran into a brick wall. Easily add £25m to his value if he settles and play’s well!
We were all relieved when we finally managed to sign someone and tbf Diouf looks good.
It’s still a big squad rebuild required though and the pace has to pick up to have any preseason and avoid last day panics.
The midfield obviously is still the same and useless in any combination.
It’s hard to imagine more than one of the present slow not creative not defensive players in a really effective midfield.
That doesn’t seem to be the urgent priority to deal with which is not hopeful for the new season.