The contradiction in messages coming out of London Stadium before and during this transfer window has been puzzling. Some clubs conduct their business away from the glare of public scrutiny, others choose to pass on information either to deflect, misdirect or try and inform or misinform. The Jhon Duran failed negotiation is a case in point.
West Ham let it be known very publicly that an offer of £57 million had been made which Aston Villa had already rejected out of hand. Presumably the failure was made public to show supporters that the club were doing their utmost to support the manager.
Duran – was the money ever really there? If Ajax think so, then doing a deal for Brobbey becomes doubly tough
At the same time, the club were promoting the stance that ‘they were right on the edge of PSR regulations’ and had a tiny transfer budget – even last summer West Ham were professing to be broke whilst splashing well over a hundred million.
Now in January 2025 that may well be true but giving the oxygen of publicity to a ‘proclaimed’ £57 million bid – however it was structured – seems to have backfired over subsequent player negotiations.
The position with regard to Ajax and Brian Brobbey would seem to show, in hindsight, the own goal that West Ham have scored. To admit very publicly ‘that’ offer of £57 million to Aston Villa just two weeks ago and then try and take Ajax’s goalscorer on a loan-only deal would seem a giant folly. Ajax must be quietly rubbing their hands knowing the Hammers had £50 million+ tucked down the back of the sofa just two weeks ago. It must have made negotiating for Brobbey doubly difficult by showing the club’s hand to the other side before even sitting down to try and do a deal.
Negotiating value-for-money deals in January is tough enough, especially when clubs know West Ham’s desperation to bring in a new goalscorer. Hopefully common sense will prevail before someone else leaps in and hijacks the deal to bring this highly rated young striker to London. Time to get the cheque-book out.
Did Aston Villa ever at any point want to sell Jhon Duran?
I keep having to repeat, its not the board, its Sullivan. He’s not very bright when it comes to the world of football. So much of what he does is about trying to get personal credit but always backfires on him. The other week he sits in full view alongside one of his sychophantic agent “mates” Salthouse. He’s a clueless amateur who is cowardly and divisive. Simon Jordan used the word “insidious”. Spot on.
Funny how Sullivan and co made it known that they are conducting transfers not Tim anymore and suddenly every media outlet no what we are doing and how much we have to spend……bit like that Harry Enfield character way back you no “Loadsamoney”
I don’t think I can read another article about Jhon Duran on this site. I like C&H very much and appreciate your hard work but please can we move on.
Exactly right and what i said …they alienate clubs every year with the way we go about our transfers
We honestly are a laughing stock..
Like you say clubs will just take the **** with us ..and it’s out own fault …57 million offered for duran ,then moaning about an option to buy for Bobby. Wich is under half of that …I mean wtf are they playing at…I wish to God this club gets new owners in my lifetime……we have tried everything else….
6o odd thousand we get at the stadium and the clubs run like a non league side …AWFUL and sad
West Ham are nowhere near the edge of PSR regulations. Based on analysis of the last accounts by football finance expert Swiss Ramble, the Club could lose up to £200 million in its 2024/25 accounts and still comply with PSR. West Ham is one of the least constrained PL clubs in terms of PSR, so that messaging from the hierarchy convinces no-one.
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The decisions that are made are deranged, there is no rationality to them.
I understand a straight decision not to spend a bit more on Duran under certain circumstances. But when you absolutely need a forward and the option is a 31 year old with an injury record and little prospect of sell on value costing 27 million then it becomes deranged.
I thought that when we went for Fullkrug it was a bargaining ploy I didn’t think that we would actually go and buy him.
The end result is that we’ve had a player who has been constantly crocked and is now worth significantly less than what we paid, whereas if we’d paid a bit more we’d have a player who’s been on fire and reputedly worth approaching twice what we’d have paid for him.
And that wasn’t even the most deranged decision at the time, that was Lopetegui. I don’t see how things are ever going to be any different while the same person calls the shots.
Just because West Ham flashed £57m (nowhere near that according to Villa reps) it don’t mean Ajax can ask what they want. If they bloat the asking price then Sullivan will tip em b*##*@!s
We do seem to be hopeless with our negotiating methods. I would personally prefer to hear nothing & all this ‘ a club insider ‘ says is an absolute waste of time . Keep all the info quiet & just get the job done. We don’t have to know everything , just makes us look amateur 🤷♂️⚒
Take note. Club insiders!!!!! Do me a favor you copy and paste thats it!!
Wouldn’t believe the west ham board if they told me today is Friday
Yep …pray for new owners