Just four games remain in the Premier League season and West Ham’s recruitment campaign is under way already, as you’d expect from a club which has such a large-scale rebuild on the cards. As Claret and Hugh’s article yesterday, however, the club is already finding attracting high quality players tough going after such an uninspiring season.
It also explains why some of the targets which the club is chasing seem to be at inflated figures. Whether it be high wages or high transfer fees – as reported in the case of Independiente defender Kevin Lomonaco, the Irons will literally count the cost of Potter’s uninspiring brand of football.
Sportwitness.co.uk‘s report setting out West Ham’s plan to bid in June for the 23 year old headlines:
” West Ham bid expected for player at beginning of June – Price tag seems to have tripled” gives details of the Hammers intended bid of some €17.6 million – about £15 million – for a player originally valued at €6 million.
It is a problem which West Ham will find replicated over and over again as they go looking for recruits- either artificially inflated price demands or huge wage requests from players reluctant to come to the seventeenth finisher in the Premier League.
Lomonaco, a centre-back for Club Atletico Independiente, is currently on loan from Brazilian club Red Bull Bragantino. Even at £15 million the 6’4″ centre-back would be a decent addition to West Ham’s defence: Whether the Hammers can get a deal over the line remains to be seen in the coming window.
With no experienced Director of Football to handle player negotiations, the trio of Sullivan, Potter and Macaulay are about to find their recruiting skills put to the test.
17th Finisher in the premier league is like a top 6 team in any other top tier league in the world, with the added bonus that its also the most lucrative. If you make it here, you can make it anywhere. Don’t short sell the appeal of the league, especially coming into an established team. We’re next to Spurs and Man U in the league, its been an odd, transitional season for some big teams, do you think they will stuggle to recruit? This site and some of the insight from the writers is becoming deplorable; you have a captive audience, use it more wisely please. Maybe you can treat us to a bit more journalism, and a bit less claptrap?
Don’t worry my fellow Hammers, It’s all in the capable hands of Sully
Not sure the reason prices are inflated because of our position they seemed to be high last year and we were far higher in the league. We have to face facts we aren’t gonna attract the best players around but might get lucky. I wouldn’t mind betting the inflated prices are to just counteract the ridiculous lowball offers that they know will come from Sullivan so a happy medium may be achievable
Just let these mediocre South American players dreams die . On principal , no more over priced players .
Very much contradictory to normal whu bidding.
If he’s any good keep him away from general comments on this site.