It seems that several players from the Championship warrant elevation to Premier League status: Anecdotally West Ham are ‘on message’ about the quality of players available, with Potter and Macaulay keen to promote young talent from the second tier of English football whilst David Sullivan’s “pick” from last summer looked pretty good before he tore his hamstrings.
At least Crysencio Summerville will feel like a new signing come September!
The danger of course is that the step up in quality from Championship to Premier League is too great for some: For every Jarrod Bowen or Dean Ashton success there is a Jordan Hugill lurking to strike fear into every chairman.
The current crop of young, dynamic players in the championship includes Hayden Hackney, already an England u21 international and growing in admirers as this seemingly never-ending season continues with the UEFA u21 European Championships.
The worst news emerging for the Hammers – who are considering Hackney – is that the arch – nemesis David Moyes wants to take Hackney to Everton and just today Tottenham are linked with a bid for what has been described as ‘the best passer’ in the championship.
Sitting perfectly in the number six role, Hackney performed for England with quiet efficiency, a couple of those midfield-piercing passes completed showing admirers a little of what he’s capable of.
The nonsense that is the ‘sell before we buy’ Hammers hiatus could easily mean brilliant young prospects like Hayden Hackney and Sunderland’s Chris Rigg- – available at very West Ham affordable prices- could slip through the Irons’ fingers: How much worse can it get that letting David Moyes – or Spuds – steal Hackney from within our clutches whilst the Hammers operate like some latter day Del Boy Trotter, hawking a load of old tat round the market place, hoping in vain to secure twenty million-plus bids for James Ward Prowse, Edson Alvarez and Guido Rodriguez.