Claret & Hugh have been informed that one West Ham policy is seriously hindering the club’s ability to sign players permanently in January.
Recruiting a striker remains the top priority for Nuno Espirito Santo, but the Hammers boss would also welcome reinforcements at centre-back, left-back, and central midfield if the opportunity arose. Scouts have been dispatched and agents contacted as West Ham look to cast the net wide — but every conversation seems to be hitting the same roadblock.
The issue? West Ham’s relegation wage-drop clause.
50% Pay Cut Clause Causing Major Issues
Every player contract at the club includes a clause stipulating a 50% reduction in wages in the event of relegation from the Premier League.
While the policy makes financial sense should the worst happen, it’s proving to be a major deterrent for potential new recruits — especially with the Hammers currently hovering near the drop zone.
A top transfer source explained to Claret & Hugh:
“Look, West Ham have always had these deals, but it’s never been a problem because you’ve never looked like getting relegated.
But unless they go on a big run between now and January and move well away from the bottom three, nobody decent is going to sign a long-term deal. I think it’ll be loans out and loans in for January — nothing else makes sense.”
Loans the Most Likely Outcome
With permanent targets reluctant to commit under the current wage structure, it now seems likely that West Ham’s winter window will revolve around short-term loans, with the club focusing on flexible options rather than long-term investments.
It’s a damning indictment of how poorly the club has been run in the yest few seasons. It seems that West Ham are now harvesting the results of botched recruitment over successive transfer windows and the disastrous decisions to appoint Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter.
Regarding no players wanting to join because of a wage cut if relegated if I was a player wanting to join this season would it not be a good idea with a contract to the end of season with a option to extend if club is not relegated and a option to leave if relegated and then from the following season a wage cut. I am only suggestion at the moment this season
We need a good footballer (22-25 yo) of a certain standard with potential to grow at WHU (same way Bowen has), like the rest of the squad that is being built up through great signings (Magassa, Fernandes), academy and a few quality players such as Soucek, Paqueta, Bowen,… then we’ll also be able to afford them, bring them to the club, wages won’t be a problem and see it as an investment in the future. No more quick fixes.
We hear talk of Toney and Dju. Toney is out of the question/will never happen, Dju already too expensive and in too high demand to bother to come to our club.
With all the WHU scouts around the world there is nobody affordable in Scandinavia, Czechia (for example), the championship?
Problem with WHU scouts around the world is that they are all looking in the same places that the other learned scouts are looking, Peter.
There are routes to playing football other than through academies or feeder clubs.
Agree with you – the net needs to widen. AI can do the job at the moment. We need undiscovered gems.
I agree with clause for first team squad, stumbling block or otherwise.
What are the alternatives
Have tiered system where different players or positions have different clauses ?
I suppose they could have a fixed number that players couldn’t go below for a season in the championship they know roughly what it would cost to drop a league and for example say all first team players can’t drop below 30k a week ?
They could also agree to sell players for fixed fees in the case of relegation to facilitate getting high wages off the books.
There are no easy answers relegation means the wage bill has to be trimmed it’s reality not fantasy football after all.
Can we not pair it with a sensible relegation release clause?
Most disastrous decision was to bring in Tim Steidten to oversee transfers.
At least West Ham’s owners excel at something. Incompetence!
If they want a player bad enough either waive that clause or add a relegation release clause at an agreed price