From the reports yesterday linking Luis Guilherme with a deal taking him away to Saudi club Al Hilal, it is evident that there is some cash incoming to West Ham’s transfer coffers in the next couple of weeks. With ‘priorities’ all over the pitch it would be easy to spend five times over as last August. A new goal keeper, two centre backs, defensive and creative midfielder and two strikers- where to start.
At the front. Unless there is an attacking threat – games will not be won. Of course, tightening up a leaky defence is crucial but as Mohammed Kudus showed yesterday, he is not an out and out striker – so without a number nine in Antonio, Fullkrug and makeshift striker Bowen’s absence- but even when Bowen returns – the Hammers need to carry a goal threat. Unlike midfield or in defence, there is no ready and waiting youngster to step up and learn his craft in the first team as Orford, Scarles and Casey can.
So when further reports link Brazilian Yuri Alberto – a striker who we have bid for before – with an attainable price of £20-£25 million, West Ham’s board need to bite the bullet and seek to get a deal done. Time for technical director Tim Steidten to power up the jet and ‘don’t come home without him’.
But make no mistake, this is not an easy deal: Perfect for Tim to show us all exactly why he’s paid the big bucks. Reports such as footballinsider247.com claim that there’s a simple target price now on the table, suggesting that “West Ham told ‘£20m’ Yuri Alberto offer could be accepted”: It isn’t so straightforward as that.
Alberto is a problem as his ownership is shared between Corintians and Zenit: The Corinthians ownership is bullish about keeping their goalscorer who won Brazil’s equivalent of the golden boot last year, scoring more that 30 goals on the way. The Hammers did enter a bid for the player in 2023 of £14 million which was refused.
Chairman of the club Augusto Melo said only last month “He will not leave, he is very happy here and will not leave. We are not going to get rid of anyone. We want to keep this squad.”
Which in transfer terms means usually means show me more money. Manchester City just paid €70 million for Omar Marmoush, who was (laughably) one of West Hams reported targets last window. Time for the end of the lowballing and time to put a decent goalscorer on the pitch at London Stadium. £20, £25 million that’s cheap in todays transfer market. No striker, no goals and ‘nul points’.
This German idiot should not be allowed to sign anymore players he is totally clueless and should be sacked along with his brother
Yes we need a centre forward and you have to ask what Mubama must be thinking now. He’s not getting any game time at City as predicted and we now have a manager would I suspect be starting him most matches I suspect. Grass is not always greener lol
He’s just came on for Haaland
Good to see him coming on for Haaland today to make his first Premier League appearance after scoring against Salford in the FA Cup. He has also been on the first team bench 3 times in Premiership games. Sadly I can’t see him regretting leaving us to be honest especially when he’s learning from players like Haaland, De Bruyne and Foden. Would loved to have seen him stay at West Ham as I think he would have thrived under Potter and we are crying out for a good striker.
Interesting to also see James McAtee who we have been linked with score after just 6 minutes on the pitch. He is one we should have moved for at the beginning of the window.
I have not been a happy hammer for sometime! I was one of many hardcore hammers who left in their droves, when Moyes was in charge v Arsenal. We had been beaten so many times 4-0 5-0 6-0 it was desperate! Then Sullivan appointed Lopetegui even though the fanbase and others wanted potter or Amorim.Sullivan and Moyes have setback west ham united fc years with their ineptitude.PLEASE STEPDOWN AS CHAIRMAN OF OUR CLUB BEFORE WE ARE RELEGATED THIS SEASON.
Why is it that Bournemouth with a capacity of 18000 can afford to pay £45m for edmilson ? Yet west ham with 65000 fans at every home game and a stadium that made a profit from seat sales of £42m last season can’t afford Duran at £45m.Us long suffering WEST HAM SEASON TICKET HOLDERS deserve better. The concessions debate proves Sullivan has no love for west ham just his wallet.
Great question Kevlar ..
We can not take any more chances on these players who have not played at top level.
The only one i would take a chance outside the PL on would be jonathan david at lille, but in all honesty he could take a pic on which club he wants (wont be us working under sully offering dildos as part of the deal). I would try and go for delap but am sure ipswich will want close to 40 mil which the dwarf wont cough up.
Tim stiten needs to go asap i blame a lot of this on him!
You are bang on the money my friend ! Until Sullivan leaves we will never achieve anything! He won’t back potter to buy any quality players only cheap freebies!
This is exactly what I said…20 million us nothing firca striker…if they are trying to get one cheaper then god help us ….David avaliable at around 15 mol due his contract running out in summer…so i don’t get why they ate finding it so hard..well I do they don’t want to pay up …simple
Steidten has proved his ability at attracting players to West Ham…..but the quality is the question. We couldn’t afford Duran as we had bought Guilherme and needed to buy AWB. Latter is good vfm, former may or may not come good. That meant we had to go cheaper on the striker and whilst I get going for a proven goalscorer I don’t get spending that amount of money on a 31yr old where you will never ever get (any of!) your money back from resale.
Tobido is a decent player but questionable attitude (based on his previous clubs, not just his face off with Lopetegui).
I get that the interference from Sullivan makes it more difficult for Steidten and that the players suffered poor management and coaching from Loppy but I remain unconvinced on Steidten’s ability to identify the young upcoming players that will succeed in the EPL.
the reason stiedten went for the German he was pushed into a quick fix signing after being refused the extra money to sign Duran He was pushed into a corner
Bottom line is, until Sullivan is out of this club we’re going nowhere
Yeah we have tried changing everything..I’m now thinking it dosnt matter whovever tye manager is ĺ.until we get new owners, this club will just be a laughing stock …sullivans back on transfers now as well ..so it’s bad …then you got Brady and the the so called investor kritensky who is just pathetic..I’ve seen more unicorns than him since he bought a stake ..everything about the club stinks …like a gentleman said above ..65 k a week inThat stadium and just look at the state of it ….WHAT A MESS THIS CLUB IS .. sad sad times
Agree 100% mate but Sullivan is going nowhere even though he would make an absolute fortune if he sold his shares.
I think Kretinsky is our main hope as he invested £180 – £200 million to buy his 27% of shares. He has been heavily involved in his group buying Royal Mail for £3.6 billion so understandably not been seen as much but an incredibly successful businessman. He understands the history and traditions of our club and our supporters. I hope he eventually buys the majority share in West Ham to transform our club.
I have to agree with the sentiment but disagree with ANYTHING STIENDTEN is involved in I believe he needs to be shown the door ASAP It’s time the board started to see through his ego as the last 2 managers have
DISAGREE STIEDTEN WANTED THE NOW BOURNEMOUTH MANAGER STIEDTEN WANTED DURAN STIEDTEN BROUGHT IN KUDAS AND ALVAREZ IT WAS SULLIVAN WHO GOT LOOPY LOO AND NO SIGNINGS THIS WINDOW SO LOOK AT THE FACTS WHERE THE BLAME LIES
In the £250 million spend Steidten has overseen, we have only Kudus to show for it. As well as the smallest and oldest squad in the premier league. Please don’t let him anywhere near the cheque book or private plane ever again…. And certainly not for another one of his Jolly’s to Brazil! Let Potter and his team identify who they want/need. Iraola joined Bournemouth the summer after we won the conference league and I can’t remember him ever being linked with us?! I’m sorry, the guy is a con man who has taken us for a ride based on having a bit part role at a successful Leverkusen side.
I can assure you Stiedten played a large part with Leverkusen success and we were heavily linked with Iraolo fact I understand where your coming from but you’ve got to accept the players brought in were being directed under very poor management