By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
According to a report in The Times, Daniel Kretinsky is planning to retain a number of key West Ham players in an effort to return the club to the Premier League at the first attempt.
In what the newspaper described as something which would “win favour with supporters after the demise of an unpopular regime”, it certainly appears the charm offensive is underway.
Winning Over West Ham Fans Won’t Be Difficult
Seriously though, who can blame Kretinsky for using the media to get his message across to West Ham supporters?
The normally silent Czech billionaire is clearly making his move for power at the football club and, if we’re being honest, convincing supporters he would be an improvement on David Sullivan shouldn’t be the most difficult task in the world.
Certainly, if reports of an improved stadium, a modern recruitment structure and a revamped scouting department are to be believed, Kretinsky is saying all of the right things.
The bigger question, of course, is whether he follows those words with actions.
Thus far, though, the noises are encouraging.
Which Players Can Actually Be Kept?
As for these “key players”, at this point your guess is probably as good as mine.
Clearly, it would seem almost impossible to retain Mateus Fernandes, who looks destined for either Manchester United, Real Madrid or one of the other European heavyweights circling around him.
But perhaps there is a genuine chance of keeping hold of players such as Jarrod Bowen and Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Could Kretinsky Keep Bowen at West Ham?
Those are the types of players who could make an enormous difference in the Championship and give West Ham a realistic chance of bouncing straight back.
At this stage there is little point getting too deep into speculation over individual names.
What matters more is the intent.
And if Kretinsky is genuinely serious about retaining West Ham’s best players in order to escape the Championship at the first attempt, then I, for one, certainly admire the ambition.
I would put Summerville on the key players list too as well as Hermansen and Soucek, maybe Castellanos also.
Fernandes is destined for the top if he continues improving.
Hopefully we can identify more such players!and rebuild with a coaching structure that gives the academy a pathway.
I think your missing the point. If Kretinsky can buy Gold & Sullivans shares at a sensible price now we are relegated & shape the club into a good business model & het us back up which probably means insisting some key players honour their contracts he would have a
‘Very valuable asset’ on his hands which is what he is all about reshaping assets with potential & increase their worth!
Also you can raise quiet a bit of money by selling say Magassa, Diouf, Wan Bassika, Tolido etc & the ladies team you do not have to sell our key players to raise this money
It would be a refreshing change to have an owner who goes about his business quietly.
Pat, David Sullivan has said very little publicly over the past few years and I wouldn’t class that as “refreshing” in any shape or form. It’ll be the actions of Kretinsky that determine his and our success, not what he does or doesn’t say in the press.