“Gone!” | Latest ‘done deal’ offers Hammers fans hope ahead of Tuesday deadline – Here’s Why

West Ham United’s new-era transfer modus operandi offers an element of hope for supporters as the Tuesday deadline approaches.

With a different approach to methodology, few signals or ‘leaks’ are offered to the media ahead of player departures or signings, with it not being uncommon for transfers to proceed through all of the agent discussions, player – to – club talks, price negotiations – right up until a final medical before news reaches the waiting media audience.

Such was the case with Joel Piroe – whose transfer was completed within a couple of days of it becoming common knowledge – and such is the case with James Ward Prowse – who has already left the club, transfer completed, a couple of days after the first reports were made that Southampton and West Ham were considering a transfer.

Impressive stuff. How different from the previous ‘leaky’ era when every twist of negotiations seemed to be played out in public, often leading to frustration and disappointment as deal after deal seemed to flounder.

More importantly it offers real hope for supporters that there’s much more going on behind the scenes that doesn’t get aired until a transfer is in it’s closing stages.

Indeed, much like the loan of Divine Mukasa: The first we heard was of a ‘medical booked for someone‘ the day before the deal was confirmed.

So it is quite feasible that three or four more may yet arrive by Tuesday evening, with news leaking out only at the last minute. Apart from the fact that it makes it challenging writing for us here at C and H, it’s a great way to do business.

A grown up way to handle transfers ? Yes indeed. It may be difficult to get used to, but it shows the club can act swiftly when needs be.

Which would be ‘now’, please.