West Ham appear to be sailing toward the opening of the transfer window without anyone on board to chart their course through the summer.
Without Chairman Sullivan or Vice-Chair Karren Brady, only an interim CEO in place and without a head of recruitment or a sporting director, one has to wonder who is actually in situ to handle negotiations.
All of which makes it seem unlikely that the club will be conducting much-if any- transfer business in the early part of the window.
Although it seems there is one deal already sealed, according to reports: Loanee Keiber Lamadrid appears to have won over Nuno and won himself a permanent deal after joining the Hammers in January.
Nuno spots a diamond in the rough: Keiber Lamadrid will apparently have a huge release clause added to his contract
Most definitely the oddest deal of the winter window, Lamadrid was a virtual unknown who stepped off a plane from Venezuela being already a full international.
The £1 million option in his loan deal made it something of a no-brainer to keep the young winger: What is surprising is the report that Nuno has placed a huge release clause in his new West Ham deal, evidently sensing big potential.
Speaking on the connector house podcast, presenter Francisco Blavia claims:
Keiber Lamadrid’s move to West Ham United is confirmed, 100 per cent confirmed…
“The information is that it was at the request of the coach himself that they’re going to buy Keiber Lamadrid, who is going to have a £20 million release clause and a five-year contract”
Not that we’ve come across the Venezuelan podcast or reporter before: If true, Lamadrid evidently impressed Nuno sufficiently to earn himself a five year deal with a whopping twenty mil release clause added.
With the club now relegated into the second tier of English football the young winger should find more opportunity once Crysencio Summerville’s sale is concluded well before the start of next season.
With a full preseason, Lamadrid now has his chance to make 2026/7 his breakthrough year and deliver on the promise that earned him that surprise January ‘punt’ by the club.
Either that or allow West Ham to make money by ‘flipping’ the youngster for a decent profit- not something the club have proved adept at in recent years. One of those rarest of transfer deals – a proper ‘win-win’ arrangement.
I think he will definitely be a good option in the championship and if he gets regular minutes hopefully gets some confidence and can be a difference maker. It won’t take much to compete with Summerville in terms of goal involvements. Summerville for all his talent often made the wrong decisions in the final third shooting instead of passing or only shooting to the far corners which was predictable for keepers.
Just saw the retained list statement on the official site and there was no mention of Callum Wilson leaving which was interesting.
Maybe it sounds incredible because we make a pig’s ear of absolutely everything & are not used to it.
Mention was made of how WHU was going to tap into the South American market – after the pathetic handling of Guilherme glad to hear some youngsters still willing to come over – well, he is not Brazilian which could be why. I imagine WHU agents in Brazil must be familiar with the phrase “¡Debes estar bromeando!” (you must be kidding) by now.
Happy for the youngster, really looking forward to seeing him play and how he will fit into the team come August. Also, he can come in under the radar – great & good luck to the lad.
No need to panic about sailing with nobody on board, Martin.
Things are happening and will happen behind the scenes. Not everything needs to be open, transparent and subject to scrutiny and explanation.
Often better that way!
COYI
A 20m release clause, whilst it would represent a big profit, is probably baked in by his agent and not Nuno / West Ham. IF Nuno / West Ham believes he is a star in the making, and insisted on a release clause it would be a much higher value than 20m
Let’s say he becomes a star in the next couple years, he would still have 2-3 years left on his 5 year contract and would easily go for 20m ++, thus I would think the clause comes from the player’s camp.
That’s the sad thing about Guilherme, had he been purchased for a similar fee he could have grown into the club without the pressure of his exorbitant £20m transfer fee.