An interesting situation on deadline day: The deal that is already agreed but isn’t agreed – if you see what I mean. ‘Terms agreed with the player but not the club’ was a fairly frequent stumbling block for West Ham last August as their deals fell by the wayside owing to headline transfer fees being rejected by clubs. This window, one of their targets has agreed to join and it paves the way for a summer deal – unless West Ham can strike a deal today to bring that forward.
West Ham have agreed a pre-contract deal with 18 year old Celtic striker Daniel Cummings who is out of contract in the summer. So – he will be joining West Ham at the end of this season anyway, with the compensation due to his club Celtic to be agreed but probably under £500k.
The Hammers are negotiating with Celtic to complete a signing today so had offered £500,000 to the Scottish club in order to bring Cummings south before the end of the transfer window. However, Celtic use Cummings as their third striker (he came on as a substitute in the Champions League game against Aston Villa midweek) and had rejected the £500k as they’re reluctant to let him leave before the end of this season.
One for the future – hotly tipped Daniel Cummings will become a Hammer – but when?
Skysports reported earlier this morning that West Ham are considering upping their bid to conclude a deal today rather than waiting for Cummings’ contract to expire, and in the last few minutes have confirmed:
“West Ham have made an improved offer for Celtic striker Daniel Cummings. Sky Sports News revealed this morning that the Hoops had turned down a bid just under £500,000. If the latest bid is rejected, it’s understood West Ham will finalise the pre-contract with the 18-year-old’s representatives for a move in the summer. Cummings has already agreed terms on a proposed deal for the summer.”
Indeed if West Ham’s bid for French forward Eli Junior Kroupi fails, then their cash flow situation may be the very thing which enables the deal to be concluded with Cummings since there will not be a £15 million up-front payment as per the offer made for Kroupi.
Transfer window dominoes at its best!
Will he play with first team if he comes ..or will he get lost in the under 23, s …if hes played for celtic in champions league then surely he’s good enough for the first team squad…..is that the plan do you know.? ….always go back to the brazilian lad , who hasn’t been given a fair go ..so that’s my point?
“there will not be a £15 million up-front payment as per the offer made for Kroupi.”
As we all know, transfer fees are rarely paid ‘up-front’, usually paid over the period of the contract.
I doubt West Ham have a cash-flow problem, but a conscious desire to stay within PSR rules and an ownership group happy to see a return on their investment.
By that, I mean, maybe Sullivan is the scrooge he’s regularly portrayed in these comments, but investors Tripp Smith & Daniel Kretinsky are not in the habit of investing in companies that require further capital input.
Investor being the important word.
Just a thought
If Cummings can be anywhere near as good as MvAvennie, then he will be a very exciting signing.
No matter how you view this window, it was always going to be difficult to bring in anyone, it always has been.
However, it is so refreshing to be linked to exciting young talent, and to be hearing that we’re potentially making headway.
I half expected us to be making a bid on bringing Cottee out of retirement.
I’ll see it as a win if we can land just one of these youngsters we’ve been linked with.