WEST HAM’s failure to press forward after a failed bid could be about to come back and bite them, according to a fresh report out this morning. The Hammers were almost – but not quite – over the line with their negotiations for Slavia Prague’s defender El Hadji Malick Diouf according to just about all reports last week.
However the enthusiasm of the articles may have overtaken their accuracy as it was established that the Hammers had not met Slavia Prague’s £21.5 million price tag. This morning it has been reported that Leeds United have entered the fray in a late bid to whip the talented left-sided defender out of the Hammers clutches, as detailed by theleedspress.com who write:
“West Ham are interested in getting their hands on the midfielder, but according to the Sunday Mirror via MOTLeedsNews, Slavia Prague have rejected a bid from the Hammers.
The Serbian [Serbian? Really- MT] side have knocked back an offer of £17.25m with add-ons from West Ham as they seek to hold out for at least a package of £21.6m.
Leeds are also keen to get their hands on the 20-year-old midfielder, and West Ham’s failed bid has pushed the Whites to try and secure a deal for the player quickly.”
Always a risk when trying to secure players for less than asking price values: However real or imagined this ‘Leeds interest’ it does seem as though West Ham are teetering with the finish line in sight. As we wrote this weekend – the next 48 hours will show just how real the Hammers interest is – or whether it is merely just another load of transfer hot air as prospect after prospect gets snapped up by Premeir League competition.
The report describes him as a midfielder. He’s a left-back. It also says the Serbian side have rejected our bid. They’re a Czech side. I wouldntread much into it
Reading all this stuff about our ‘signings’ is getting really tedious. Don’t know why I bother. Please come come back Tim Steidten!
I can only assume they want him in mid field as we have Scarles and allegedly Aguerd at LB.
Leeds don’t make me laugh
Let me give you my opinion on the financial and practical aspects of signing new players. West Ham have signed Championship player Jarrod Bowen from Hull City for £22m. This young Senegalese lad cannot be worth that kind of money, although he is very talented. Whether he will be able to shine in the Premier League is a big question. How much will he be worth in a year? In my opinion, it would be a very high-risk purchase. You can’t always buy high and sell low. There has to be some positive balance. I would rather spend my money on the best left-back in the league, Harrison Burrows. He costs half as much, but he is a proven player, seasoned in the most important games. Clearly outgrown the Championship level
You’ve called him a defender and a midfielder in the same article? We want him as a left sided defender but Leeds want him as a midfielder? What is a left sided defender? Is that a left back or the left sided centre back?
As per your last article Martin, this seems very true….
“All very well trying to buy at under market value but that leaves a vulnerability: Another club can steam in and whip the player out from under the underbidder’s nose.”
He has stated he isnt joining us