West Ham have missed out on £25 million striker target Hugo Ekitike from Reims who on his way to Newcastle.
The Hammers and the Toon have both been involved in chasing the 19 year old over the last couple of weeks.
But a source close to the player confirmed today that the Geordies have won the race for his signature.
Ekitike has been called up by the France U19 team and has scored a total of eight goals in 21 games for Reims.
The Hammers would have known last night as they continued the race for Benfica’s Darwin Nunez.
They are continuing to work on that deal today which would presumably see him installed as number one striker with Mikey Antonio moving to the left wing.
There are some reports that that Nunez doesn’t want the move but we have been told talks with the club are continuing regardless as the hours to deadline tick down.
This starting to look like incompetence..As for leaving it so late-beggars belief.
Most other clubs the same Mojen
So it’s Christmas eve and we’ve had 5 months to identify the perfect present and buy it for the Mrs but here we are in the BP garage desperately trying to find something that the garage owner will let us try for 6 months before we commit to buying it.
Poor analogy – renting cars is available
Not really Hugh. Picking up and using car rental as an example if you had 5 months to do all the research into the model you liked, spoke to your friends and the guy down the garage about it. Why on earth would you leave it until the last minute with fingers crossed that they actually had it in stock and ready for you to rent?
Thinks you may have pushed that ana;ogy a bit too far…loans are a normal part of the footbsall biz mate wjhich is the real point – good one tho
we don’t care about other clubs!!! we need a striker or 2 & a decent left sided centre back not much to ask for is it? & now Nunez been rejected by Benfica & same old with owners & dithering Moyes had this month to require players & get knocked back well see what happens when the window shuts at 11pm if no signings then can see us slide down the league & come the summer it will be to late COYI
But this was a striker who was apparently coming to us …not interested?
Hi Hugh, before. Comment I think you do a terrific job in providing the news regarding our beloved club.
In a democracy we are not always going to agree and that’s great we all have a say. But you can’t jump on everyone that has an opposite opinion. It would be boring if we all agreed lol.
On that I do think a better more organised approach to recruitment would of been nice. If indeed we don’t get the players to keep the momentum forward we may fall away and not see this position again for a long time, we are attractive now because of Europa but if we miss out we may not be in the summer
I make very few points in response these days only when I feel it’s necessary to follow up. Certainly don’t jump on people. Thanks for your comments West Aussie
Couldn’t see the logic in signing this guy.,We need cover for Anotonio now not a inexperienced player who will require plenty of time to adapt. Might as well use our under 23 boys who are top of their league!
I have to agree with the general consensus that based on evidence we consistently fail to get our targets, this was true under DS except for his punts and Will Salthouse players. Other clubs at our level do get their targets, Aston Villa, Everton, Leicester for example and now Newcastle who at some point will compete with us. Every window follows the same pattern so our strategy must have some flaws in it. Only those at the club can know what they are but to deny they are there seems nonsensical. Newman was bought in to build a scouting network and identify players that will take some time and I guess the only way is up but we bid on countless players only to hear with many they aren’t interested in us, so imho we are not speaking with their agents or doing a good enough job of selling the clubs ambitions… would be nice to hear an honest assessment from the club of what went wrong and a plan to rectify it but I guess we won’t ?
The trouble with the club telling us honestly won’t convince all