West Ham’s embryonic transfer window has seen the club frequently pitted against Premier League newcomers Leeds United.
Only last season, the Hammers were battling it out with the likes of Juventus for £35m players—but this year, it looks as though we’re getting pipped to the post by newly promoted clubs.
Make no mistake, Leeds United are a huge football club and very much a sleeping giant. However, it’s disturbing just how different their transfer market ambitions are compared to West Ham’s.
The pursuit of Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra is a perfect case in point. The Yorkshire outfit appear ready to pounce now, whereas we simply won’t. Irons boss Graham Potter is being told to wait until players are sold—and even then, he won’t receive all of the funds generated.
In the meantime, Leeds are making solid bids. Just yesterday, they saw an offer worth £32m rejected by Fulham for Rodrigo Muniz. Daniel Farke is already active in the market, with Lukas Nmecha’s free arrival from VfL Wolfsburg confirmed over the weekend and defender Jaka Bijol not far behind.
Rumoured interest in West Ham’s Tomáš Souček continues, as Leeds are not only being linked with Hammers targets—but with our own players too.
With the likes of Tottenham and Manchester United expected to improve next season, West Ham are in no position to allow promoted teams to play catch-up. The London Stadium hierarchy must act fast—because Potter’s and Kyle Macaulay’s shortlist is being picked off by next season’s rivals.