The transfer market is often interwoven with pretty complex negotiations with clubs trying to buy before they commit to selling players in key positions: West Ham are themselves admitting that they need to sell either Kurt Zouma or Nayef Aguerd before they can press on with finalising a deal to bring another centre back to London Stadium. Indeed, Gonzo’s piece today on Jean Clair Todibo refers to this very issue.
Separately, Gonzo wrote today about the Flynn Downes’ move to Southampton being back on. If I may, I’d like to advance a different take on this, from my research today.
News from Dutch outlet transferwatch.nl made me sit up and read. The Media source has claimed today that Southampton have signed right back Yukinari Sugawara from AZ Alkmaar – the importance of this is not lost on those of us who follow the negotiations going on between clubs during this window – we have been negotiating with Southampton for one of our key positions targeted in this window – the very same right back position for which Sugawara has been signed.
“The deal has been finalised and will be officially announced for the English club in the coming days,” states the Dutch source, apparently, for a player who featured against us in the ECL Semi finals last year.
This raises the very real possibility that Southampton have already lined up their replacement for our target – Kyle Walker Peters .
Negotiations for the right back have been suggested for some time, and inclusion of either Flynn Downes or indeed the failed attempt to sell Danny Ings back to the Saints could also have been part of the package for Walker – Peters. Indeed, (as Gonzo reported today) West Ham’s recent rekindled very public interest in Manchester United’s Wan-Bissaka could equally have created the leverage required to convince Southampton to move on their negotiating stance. It has a whiff of ‘Steidten’ distraction negotiation about it.
Evidence is in short supply and ‘joining the dots’ here is par for the transfer window until deals are done: This one would not surprise me one little bit so, (providing a different opinion to Gonzo at my peril,) I’d guess at a 6/10 possibility of a deal with Saints to bring Walker Peters to the Claret and Blue. There have been several stories across many days linking us with the player – and we know that the Danny Ings deal was under negotiation three weeks ago. One of the many ‘unknowns’ is whether Flynn Downes will be heading southwards as part of the deal. Complex? Yes. But, as it would significantly lower West Ham’s capital financial outlay – I’d guess yes.
Near conclusion? ‘Probably’. If Carlsberg did Negotiations.
Lopetegui wants to challenge for a top six/four spot in the premier league this season! So we need players that are able to step up and achieve this. We need top players that no how to win games and some good back ups to have a good squad also.This is the new west ham under Lopetegui and steinden and I’m loving it !!!! West ham fans were told by all the critics be careful what you wish for? Well our wish has come true COYI
downes is a fantastic player, younger and will continue to grow
he will be exceptional in a possession based system, his press resistance is world class
i wouldn’t want to see him go at all, lop says he likes players with passion, you can’t get more passion than downes playing for the team he’s dreamed about his entire life – and he’s a quality fit for the system with one cavet – his ability to slot into the backline which is key in lops system
that being said if we were going to let him go, i would be dubious about a straight swap for KWP considering the contract situation and growth potential, KWP is at his peak now and has limited progression, downes will improve and is already at a very high level
but to suggest downes + 10m for KWP i think is utterly insane, i’d usually dismiss it the rumour out of hand but 40m for kilman and the rumoured 35m for duran has me peaking through fingers
Spot on, I agree with you, but the amount of money being spent on mature overseas players with “potential” to play in the EPL is rediculous. The Clubs have only got themselves to blame. There are plenty of mature age players in the lower English leagues with “potential” available at a fraction of the cost – invest in their development, give them proper game time and watch the return on investment go up (e.g. Kilman, Bowen, etc).
I think I’d be a bit disappointed if the Wan Bissaka ‘interest’ was faked purely to encourage Southampton to act with respect to Walker Peters. I understand why it could happen, but I just think Wan Bissaka is the better player.
Not sure about ‘faked’, but more likely ‘lining up options in case Southampton won’t get real’. And making sure Saints know about it.