Recent media links and reports have been consistently linking West Ham to the Ligue 1 forward in a ‘bargain’ swoop to steal him out from under other Premier League sides’ noses. However, Claret and Hugh can reveal that, contrary to recent claims, West Ham have not finalised personal terms with Metz striker Idrissa Gueye.
The club is currently shifting its focus toward strengthening the midfield – unless the recruitment team have confused the 18 year old with Everton’s 35 year old midfielder who shares the same name!
As previously reported by Claret & Hugh, a senior source at the club revealed that manager Graham Potter did not see the need for a new striker—though this was before the arrival of Callum Wilson. Earlier today, ExWHUemployee reaffirmed that Potter’s stance remains unchanged.
West Ham’s reluctance to invest in a striker stands in stark contrast to other top-flight clubs. London rivals Chelsea have splashed out £163.8m on forwards, Arsenal £105.5m, Tottenham £85.6m, and Liverpool top the chart with £177.5m. Manchester United have also committed £85.6m to bolster their attacking options.
Footmercato reports that Gueye’s price tag is around £13m. The 18-year-old Senegal international joined Metz in January and quickly impressed with 6 goals and 1 assist in 18 appearances. His performances have drawn interest from West Ham scouts, but Borussia Dortmund now appear poised to intensify their pursuit of the Generation Foot Academy graduate.
With only Niclas Füllkrug and Callum Wilson as senior strikers, Callum Marshall could hopefully see increased involvement in the first team. Given Fullkrugs and Wilson’s history of injuries, Potter’s decision not to reinforce the striker position could be risky. However, Jarrod Bowen remains a versatile option who can step into the role if needed.
Maxwel Cornet is another option for Potter, if the club fail to sell the Ivory Coast international. Though the manager intimated during the US tour that the player should look to move as he couldn’t guarantee first team football. Cornet previously scored 9 goals in 26 appearances for Burnley and registered 2 goals and one assist in seven appearances for Genoa last season.
We sign a very exciting left wing back from Senegal, followed by interest in a young up and coming striker from the same neck of the woods. Coincidence ??
This signing will be one of the best signings in the league if at £13m. One of the brightest youngsters around at the moment playing in arguably the best African team to date. If Diouf is anything to go by, we will get a true warrior who will give his all, instead of the prima Donna has beens that we have been buying up to now. Definitely in the Bowen mould for effort – and will likely be worth 10x the asking price within 3 years. Moyes ignored my advise about Pedro when he was at Watford and would have cost a similar amount. West Ham need excitement and not tedious dull outings if the past with Bowen as a one man show keeping us up.
I’m far more worried about the lack of an attacking midfield option beyond the inexperienced youngsters. Hopefully they can step up but I’d willingly sacrifice JWP and Rodriguez for a decent attacking midfielder. As we discovered last season, lose the midfield battle and you tend to lose the game (the tale of 24-25).
Hi
Earthy and Potts first choices for me with Paqueta and a n other from Souchek or Alvarez. Sell any of the others and pick up a quality replacement. Getting Gueye over the line would be more important as his value is likely to sky rocket in the next 2-3 seasons.
Another bum steer.
We didn’t really mean to give impression we’re signing a young lady striker for £15m.
One that could become highly resellable.
Mentioned 5 teams splashing the cash.
Newcastle and Everton look to be coming up on the rails (if media has got it right.)
Can’t disagree about midfield, Raphael Onyeduka/James McAtee/Mateus Fernandes/Bilal El Khamouss?
Regarding whu striker need to include Summerville.
Although recognised as left wing he is very versatile (when fit).
Being left/right footed can play striker/second striker/No. 10/both wings/R/L midfield/Attack Mid.
Even so £15m for a potential young striker seems a good deal.
The truth is that no young player will improve without regular match time . It’s a fact that even top players need regular match time to stay competitive . Westham have a good crop of hungry young players who I’d love to see given good runs in the first team . The 25-26 season will be nothing more than survival and hopefully a cup run to keep things interesting .
We are clearly playing 3 at the back and wingbacks so to say we only have two senior striker with Fullkrug and Wilson is just not true. Bowen will clearly be playing centrally as a striker, so we have 3 senior players and Marshall. We say we want our young players to get a chance, but as soon as they are 4th choice we want to buy in another random player from abroad to hope he end up decent. The guy has played 16 games in a very average league, so it’s not like it’s nailed on he’s the next superstar.
Promoted teams will all go back down, so give our lads a chance.
We’re not going to be able to sort all our problems this window, just ain’t got the funds for it. Would rather we go out and get the best box to box player we can afford rather than spread our resources too thinly. That might change if we did get a big offer of Paqueta but until then we have to be realistic about the financial mess we are in.
Hope that’s wrong we need a striker and if you can get one with high potential for £13m when they are selling for £80+ it’s not great business to ignore it.
Are we sure he’s High potential though? The guy scored 5 goals in 17 games in the French second division. It would be an absolute gamble. Just as much chance as being like Savio all over again as him turning in to an £80m player!!
Indeed a strong and powerful midfielder or two with pace who can operate box to box is/are absolutely vital if we are in any way going to be competitive this season, however our 2 senior strikers are approaching a combined age of 70 with poor injury histories and Marshall has yet to play in the top flight with and regularity. I think this is madness and although we are nothing the same shopping aisle as the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea etc there are decent young quick forwards we could go and get that would make us better. To think we have enough as is is a mistake.
How can you not need a striker when we have Fullkrug and Wilson. Can’t even count Wilson as within 5 games he will be on the treatment table and Fullkrug also injury prone. Good to see Callum Marshall get a chance but no guarantee he’s going to cut it in the Prem’.If Potter said we don’t need a striker he’s in Cuckoo land. In truth we’ve struggled for goals for years. Another season of struggle awaits 👎
We must sign Gueye with Cummings out for a while we have Marshall but we need another youthful striker
We must get the dead wood sold as quick as we can so we can get the midfielder in ,but I am sure we can manage 13million now before we loose Gueyr
Please chairman don’t miss out on this guy you will live to regret it
Please forget Sterling
Please don’t forget the existence of George Earthy in all this talk of strikers and creative midfielders. Such a shame that he injured himself and missed pre-season, as he is really the best prospect from the current crop of academy players, and could save the club a great deal of money. Really hope Potter’s going to give him some serious game time this season.
For god sake
Typical leading us up the garden path yet again
To get a striker so young and sort after for the amount being suggested we should snap him up as he won’t be there next transfer window
A club with a brain will snap him up
I was really excited about this signing
When we need a robust and rapid midfielder and another properly mobile defender, surely the speculation about Gueye begs the question: how much better is he than Daniel Cummings, or for that matter Callum Marshall?
Silly not to get him for so little probably worth a lot more in few years. Mind you midfield is a massive issue .
From what I’ve seen in pre-season the only London club that might struggle to get above us are Brentford who have lost their manager and top striker. All the others will finish above West Ham in my opinion and it will be interesting to see how we perform in our opening few fixtures.
Potter does not convince me we will not be in the bottom six .
Your quote “London rivals Chelsea have splashed out £163.8m on forwards, Arsenal £105.5m, Tottenham £85.6m, and Liverpool top the chart with £177.5m. Manchester United have also committed £85.6m to bolster their attacking options.” Just bear in mind we are not in the same bracket when it comes to finance with the teams you mention. Furthermore, our priority is a strong, attacking and quick midfielder. With the exception of Potts, who still has a lot to learn, they are too slow and not able to consistently make that killer forward pass our attackers need, too many crab movements. Paqueta can but he is more of a roaming player.