West Ham’s owners will have few cash raising opportunities should they be looking to stage another sell to buy operation in January as was the case in the summer.
With cover needed in several positions – left back, defensive midfield and up front – it seems clear that the club will again need to enter the winter market.
And news that they have borrowed money from Barclays Bank against next summer’s TV money suggests they may well be preparing to find funds …HOPEFULLY..
The injury to Mikey Antonio has backed the view that the club should have found a back-up striker in the summer and whilst Aaron Cresswell is in outstanding form, injury would leave us relying on Arthur Masuaku.
The position in midfield is an even bigger worry as we see no cover for Tomas Soucek or Declan Ricce should injury strike beyond Mark Noble.
And as one takes a look at Moyes’ selling options they seem restricted to Robert Snodgrass and Ryan Fredericks, of whom he has actually spoken very well.
Manu Lanzini might be reluctantly added to that list but the truth is we are very unlikely to be raising the sort of cash required for a decent striker who won’t come cheap.
Whether the board move or gamble on everybody’s fitness remains to be seen but it would be a foolhardy move were they to do so.
I would suspect it will depend on form and our position in the league as we go into January. If we’re in trouble or there’s a threat of relegation they’ll open their wallet. If not they’ll most likely leave it to the summer…and then say that having to pay up for Benrahma turning permanent means there is no money to spend. Like they did with Soucek this summer.
Why are we the only club that has to sell to buy?
We spent less than all 19 of our premier league rivals this summer
In fact we didn’t spend at all
With the amount that has been trimmed from the wage bill also are they really expecting us to swallow their no cash routine yet again?
Can’t wait till lockdown ends. Such a shame the mass protest planned for last Saturday was cancelled due to it
Because they haven’t the money others have – that’s pretty clear. Is that what the protest is about? Honest question btw
mate, why would they borrow money if they had as much as you might think they have? 🤷🏻♂️
i’m sorry, how is it that if Cresswell were to be injured then that would leave us only with Masuaku? Moyes has us playing with a back 3 and we have Oggy, Diop, Balbuena and Dawson to choose from. we could even go to a back 4 and still leave Arthur where he is.
Oggys is the only left sided player in there apart from Cress so are we gonna rely on what we’ve got as cover?
We need a back-up striker in case of injury to Mikey?
Blimey, makes that £45m on Haller look like an even bigger bargain. Thanks Pellegrini you disaster.
The basic question is why are we the only club in the P.L who are saying we are skint because no-one else is. Villa are spending at will . Weare in the top 20 rich clubs in the world. FFS