Favoured Sullivan Agent Kicked into Touch as West Ham Plot Transfer Strategy

Will Salthouse’s influence at West Ham is now reported to be very limited following the completion of the Callum Wilson deal over the summer, a source has revealed to Claret & Hugh.

Salthouse — a long-time associate of the Sullivan family — has been involved in several West Ham transfer deals over the years, with mixed results. Last season’s recruitment of Aaron Wan-Bissaka was a rip-roaring success, but there have also been notable failures, including the £17 million spent on Maxwel Cornet.

However, it now appears that the final nail in the coffin may have been the signing of Callum Wilson, who also arrived via Salthouse’s Unique Sports Management agency.

Nuno in Charge of Transfers, Not Sullivan

West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo reportedly prefers to work with a select few agents — primarily Jorge Mendes — and a well-placed transfer insider has told C&H that Salthouse and Unique Sports Management could be frozen out this January.

This follows revelations earlier this week that “David Sullivan is not looking to replace Kyle Macaulay”, and that “the manager is picking the players.”

That comment came after speculation that West Ham were on the hunt for a new recruitment head who could help “convince players to join the club.” Our sources insist that report is totally false — all recruitment decisions now rest firmly with Nuno.

That could be bad news for Unique Sports and Salthouse, who may find themselves on the outside looking in during West Ham’s crucial January transfer window.