How many years have West Ham Fans sat glum faced, watching the scrolling screens showing last day activity, hoping against hope that something, anything was going to be published about news of an impending London Stadium arrival on deadline day?
Finally we have our drama.
As if EIGHT summer signings wasn’t enough. Today West Ham are set for their ninth signing of the Summer, who is en route to the UK as I type. As a quick lunchtime update – which I’ll have to edit if anything changes in the next hour – here is a summary of what we know to have been agreed so far:
The ‘Outs’ (remember our highly ranked club source said three ‘possible’ outs this morning?) Well:
Maxwel Cornet appears to be on his way to Southampton although Crystal Palace have been trying to hijack his loan move. He’s said his goodbyes and is off for a medical this afternoon.
James Ward Prowse Has agreed a season loan at Nottingham Forest and again, having said his farewells at the training ground is off in the opposite direction for a ‘Forest medical later.
Kurt Zouma Having passed (!) his medical is due to join Al-Orouba. Season long loan with west Ham subsidising his wages to the tune of about 50% which would be around £55,000 a week. At the end of his year loan he will be a free agent.
And The ‘in’ – So Far:
Carlos Soler Paris St Germain and West Ham have agreed a deal for Soler who had already agreed personal terms with the club and is in fact on his way by ‘plane today to complete his medical at London Stadium to ensure his move is completed before 11pm. He’s had the famous ‘Here We Go’ from Fabrizio Romano who has, incidentally, confirmed there is an option for West Ham to buy Soler at the end of the loan for 20 million euros, about £16 million. I guess it’s pretty official now!
Hammer’ Ninth Signing – Midfielder Carlos Soler
Tantalisingly our highly ranked source at West Ham did say this morning that ‘Two Incoming’ was possible.
The identity of the second target for deadline day appears to have been revealed: It is Chelsea’s Carney Chukwuemeka, a 20 year- old central midfielder, Tim Steidten is a huge fan, apparently.
Premier League rules mean only two active loan players can be registered at the same club at the same time – although four could be on the books if not all in the squad. Whether that applies to under 23’s as well – now, I’m sure someone will put me right!
Players aged 21 and younger can be loaned outside of the limit.
Westham won’t get anymore player sky news never go’s to westham grounds and talk to them
No striker then. Sounds greedy I know. Happy with Soler, but really hoped that the final ‘surprise’ signing was going to be a young, quick, aggressive striker.
We need another striker after Soler, I like Füllkrug but neither Ant or Ings are good enough for what we now need to push on.
Here we go, here we go, here we go. Not known a deadline day day like it.
Something about Ings and Aguerd now along the lines of here we go would make things perfect.
I don’t think I’ll be going to bed early tonight
Wow! and although we still look laboured the difference is we are winning and I’m sure once these incomings are bedded in we will have a genuine squad that can challenge for euro spots year in and year out…