Gustavo Sá Rejection Explains West Ham Reality
Following Nottingham Forest’s confirmation regarding the signing of former West Ham target Gustavo Sá, many supporters were surprised that a deal wasn’t concluded weeks ago, with expectations that the Portuguese U-21 international would be announced as our first summer signing.
Despite Famalicão accepting a £17.3m offer and the deal appearing close enough for Portuguese outlets to prepare the “Sá to West Ham” headlines, the midfielder himself reportedly pulled the plug. And crucially, he didn’t just reject the Championship… he rejected everything that came with the move.
Sources in Portugal say Sá simply wasn’t convinced by the idea of dropping into the second tier, even temporarily. That stance held firm despite a number of factors West Ham believed would tip the scales in their favour.
One was the presence of his former manager Rui Pedro Silva, now Assistant Head Coach at West Ham. Nuno’s agent, Jorge Mendes, also represents the player. Another was the prospect of playing in front of the Championship’s largest club, a fanbase that dwarfs most Premier League attendances.
Clearly none of it appealed. Sá wasn’t willing to gamble on a promotion push.
Forest Offered What West Ham Couldn’t
Nottingham Forest, who ultimately stayed up, offered exactly what he wanted: top-flight continuity. He accepted immediately, completed his medical, and will head to Olympiacos on loan.
For West Ham, it’s a brutal wake-up call as to how tricky this summer transfer window is set to be.
Eddie Howe leaves Newcastle Make him our manager first big signing
I understand Koppen’s view of holding out for Premier League cast offs, but at this point, we need fresh players.
Harwood-Bellis would be a welcome addition to defence. If, at the end of the window, Disasi also came in on loan our CB resources are, arguably, better than last season. Win.
Sorba Thomas would add both pace and depth to our wide resources. If then, a Premier League quality winger is avaliable closer to September, fantastic.
That’s two deals that would improve the team, but also wouldn’t prevent further additions. Go get them done.
Clearly Forest don’t feel he is ready for the PL, maybe the Championship would have been a struggle as well
I think playing for Glasner would be more appealing than playing for Nuno also.
We let Martin Adeline go for $4m euros who looked possibly like a replacement for Fernandes, this kid for by today’s standards
Wonder if there are a lot of targets that we have that are just not being leaked ?
Hard to guage when we haven’t brought a new player into the club.
Karma’s a bi**h as they say. Something he may live to regret in 2 or 3 seasons time.
It feels as though we have, potentially, owners that realise the club’s potential.
We may need to be patient, but surely the law of averages says we have to get it right at some point.
I think we’ll return to the Premiership better and stronger, and in a stable environment to thrive.
As I said in a similar article I still believe West Ham held back on this transfer as they seem to have done with any incoming targets. However, the player has the right to choose where he wants to play, but I don’t buy the ‘I don’t want to drop to second tier’ etc. a move from Portugal to the Championship is a big jump up not down. Yes the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 are higher standard, but the Championship probably ranks next. Maybe our strategy should include selling the merits of the Championship as still being one of the strongest leagues in the world In addition to the Club.
We should be going for Championship players who see WHU as a step up, or EPL players who can’t get a game at their club and can’t get a move to another EPL club. It’s how the game works, and quite simple really.
To you and me it is Donny, but not to the crazy horses in charge (or alot of the fans and pundits apparently)