Southampton have no option or obligation to buy in their loan deal with Fynn Downes.
The decision on whether or not to sell Downes will be down to West Ham’s new head coach Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham Downes originally from Brentwood was signed on a £12m five-year deal from Swansea in July 2022 with an option for a further year.
Downes has been restricted to just seven starts in the Premier League for the Hammers with 14 substitute appearances, he had 3 more appearances in domestic cups and 11 appearances in Europe.
Last summer he joined Southampton on a season-long loan with the Championship club paying his full wages.
The loan deal included a significant bonus if Southampton were promoted back to the Premier League which has now been triggered after their win at Wembley today in the Championship Play-off final. Downes made 37 appearances for the Saints in all competitions despite suffering an injury.
We could have done with him last season especially the 2024 part. He has proved himself to be good enough for our lot. It’s madness to even think about selling him.
I thought he was too good to be loaned out in the first place. Would have been good to shaw up our very leaky defence.
Unless we have someone better in mind bring him back.
I reslly think he has a good future..we should definitely keep him ..he will get better
He was class yesterday…relaxed on the ball. He set up the goal with his quick vision.
I’d want him back
We paid 30 mil top dollar in my opinion..ward-prowse has fallen off a cliff …surly bring in downs and potts our squad is so light ,play them in the cups and off the bench ..I really rate down his stat’s are right up there with the best
Maybe wait to see what Loppy makes of him!!!!!
The issue is why do good players join then take a massive dip in form only to pick up again once they move on? Why has ward-prowse fallen off a cliff after being the best player by a mile season upon season in a poor Southampton team?
Shaun this is a Westham site, do one pal !!!
Would love to see downes sold to us he is too good for a bench warmer sell him to us we need him.
Saints ticket holder and life long fan.
Why is it that West Ham can buy players at over inflated prices yet also sell the same players at huge losses?
Sullivan must be the biggest mug in football
If Southampton want Downes, they need to make an offer first and go from there.
Same though I wouldn’t want to pay over 15m for him. This lot who think they’re going to be challenging for the CL next season with that squad and manager need to give there heads a wobble- and that’s with or without Downes
It’s all just talk and speculation. All of our players will return to the club and be put through their paces during pre-season so Loppy can evaluate them, based on what he feels he needs. Downes will clearly be part of that. If he’s not what our manager needs, he’ll be sold. If he is, then that’s the confidence boost he needs to stay.
One of our few loan deals that has worked handsomely for everyone. As the song goes in Les Miserables…. Bring him home.
The Championship has proved to be a great competition this year and Flynn Downes has shown himself to be a key player for the Saints. He covers every blade of grass, rarely loses possession and passes through the gaps. As with players like Scamacca, Benrahma and Haller, instead of inspiring them, Moyes destroyed their confidence. Downes is a valuable asset, now worth at least double what we paid for him. He needs assurance to be in the starting eleven.
When the club are desperate for home grown players, we seem like madness to let such a talent player leave ?
It seems to me that Flynn Downes is a good quality player who is already ours and who fills one of the home grown spots. As for his worth he’s been constantly claimed to have been the best player in the Championship, he’s relatively young and he’s on a reasonable length of contract. That has to be worth considerably more than the £12M being talked about. Since when has the best player in the Championship been worth only £12M ?
I look forward to attractive attacking football next season and qualifying for the Champions League being a cert. Now that the Moyes ball has gone and we only had “3” straight years in europe. Sullivan does it again, what a shrewd operator.
Plead with him to come home and start him with Alvarez. Please don’t let this class act and true Hammer slip through the net. The likes of him and George Earthy can be our future. STOP LEAKING TALENT!
My thoughts exactly
Spot on
I watched his game against Leeds and he’s a very good player but probably not a CL level player which is what Lopetegui is targeted. Downes is a WH fan but was unfortunate in having Moyes as his manager. Moyes wouldn’t play him in his position while Soucek had lots of bad games there.
Downes is way more comfortable on the ball but, probably not as strong aerially nor pops up with goals. That’s why Moyes had to go. He preferred someone to block shots and make clearances rather than hold onto the ball and use it wisely. Even without Paqueta which is possible, I doubt that he would be an automatic first choice. That explains why Downes has voiced his opinion that he would prefer to stay with Southampton…
CL level player? Who can tell until a player is tested at this level. Who’d have thought Bowen would have adapted so well coming from a championship club.
Paid £12m but was probably worth £6m when loaned out. Take £10m if on the table
Best player in the championship and take 10 million , you are joking,, yes 6 million when he left for Southampton but thats because Moyes devalued him , Now hes been revalued at 20 million
I support that saints. Northampton Town and Boris
20 million at the least, Southampton have raving about him all season.We always let players go on the cheap,if they want him pay the going rate
Saints should offer £10million for Ward Prowse instead. Should be England captain. Hot dogs with cheese, meat pie and bovril. Sir beer starter for new managers managers manager.
Agree, give them Ward Prowse for 15mil that would be a better option, Flyn has more fight in him.
Downes is a better player than that skate idiot shoot the Pompey scum and support the saints
I think if his Time at Southampton has been successful which it clearly has, seeing as they are now Returning to the Premier League it’s only clever Business to sell him he wasn’t utilised under Moyes and Doesn’t strike as a Lopetegui Favourite to the Likes Of Alvarez.
Could definitely Capitalise on this opportunity and Earn £15-20 Million for Him at least, we Paid £12 so £15 is 3 Million Profit plus Bonuses..
Alternatively Re Loan him to Southampton for 2 years with obligation to Buy..
Smart business
What moon do you likely go to
The boys west ham through and through..loaning him back to the saints would be the correct thing to do . Especially if we get a good loan fee . And we’ll learn then is he good enough at the top level .
Thing is, he’s made it plain, that he doesn’t want to return to West ham, stating his preference to remain with the Saints!
I have been flicking cigarette 🚬 ash for a very long time. One time whilst blowing ciggy smoke in the air at a home game Flynn had a crafty cig too. He really knows how to flick ash
Best player we have in midfield