News

Confusing Hammers midfielder report

|

Morning reports that the Hammers have told Olympiakos they are prepared to pay £15m for Greece midfielder Kostas Fortounis are more than a little confusing.

The Daily Star is claiming within the same story the Irons “will not be held to ransom over the 26-year-old, with Newcastle’s Isaac Hayden still their preferred choice to bolster the engine room.”

In effect none of that is too logical on the face of things as Hayden is a defensive midfielder as was Andre Gomes – a position Manuel Pellegrini is particularly keen to fill – whilst Fortounis is an attacking player.

It’s been made crystal clear over recent days the manager wants another defensive operator alongside Declan Rice and thus it’s difficult to believe that he may have changed his mind over the last 24 or 48 hours.

For the record Fortounis, has also played up front, had 12 goals and nine assists in 28 Greek Super League games last season.

Share this article

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!"

Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon