It’s becoming harder and harder to see how the Hammers will raise funds for the summer window given those that may be available for sale.
Manchester United have been offered three players from Juventus for Paul Pogba as the Italian outfit have financial difficulties like everybody else and little spare cash.
In such circumstances you wonder how on earth the Hammers will get anything like the sort of fees they may be hoping for with only the likes of Felipe Anderson, Manu Lanzini and Andriy Yarmolenk among those being names as avaialable.
Looking elsewhere Ryan Fredericks could be a possible departure with his contract ending next June but beyond that we are struggling.
Right now you would do well to put £7m-£8 million on Anderson and, given his rare appearances, much the same on Lanzini, whilst Yarmolenko’s age and injury record doesn’t welcome a lot of investigation
January’s spend stat across the whole of the Premiership keeps coming back to mind when a mere £70 million was spent by the 19 Premier League clubs.
With a possible European campaign in front of us after a season when we have often been unable to fill the bench we are not facing the most encouraging situation.
I expect us to buy Lingard one way or another plus a striker but beyond that we need midfield cover and right and left backs.
I would expect to see a couple of loans and negotiated instalment terms on incoming players whilst dough will no doubt be raised from somewhere.
But once again it looks as though we will depend largely on the manager to be pulling rabbits from hats as we approach the next season.
Lots of fun to be had watching the rabbits pulled from the hat, Hugh. Shows that the workers are earning their keep and doing a useful job. Not just running a finger down the classifieds. Keeping us guessing is part of the excitement. Seeing new rabbits perform has been wonderful so far.
COYI
There are deals to be had in the Championship and relegated teams. Our academy players should get a run too. If we make Europe, we will not win, so keep building.
We have a very small squad as it stands so if we lose Balbuena, Fredericks, Yarmo, Lanzini (so disappointed to see him leave) and I expect Johnson to go out on loan next season for experience. In addition I expect Anderson to leave. We need to sign 6 players at least to have a squad that can cope with domestic and European football, this is assuming we lose the above and we also sign Lingard. Lingard for me came in for Haller who we never really replaced. The areas i think we need to strengthen is at RB (this could allow Coufal to play in a back 3 too), CB (replacement for Balbuena), LB. a CM, A Left Winger/Striker and a Striker.
We have alves as a replacement for balbuena. One of the rare times we have looked ahead with our recruitment. Cb is not a problem area we have 3 solid players and a young prospect. There are many other areas we have squad problems in. Striker obviously, left back, central midfield. Keeper.
Word on this constant, oh we won’t get much money for players, depressed covid market. That works for all other selling clubs too. As in we should pay less as well.
Bring on the young players!!! Are they the future? Is that feasible? I’m sure the backroom team know the potential of Trott, Alves, Baptiste, Johnson, Coventry – will DM bring them on? Note that other top teams do!! COYI