One in, one out | Nuno’s Championship squad takes shape after busy week at West Ham

Finally there’s momentum gathering behind West Ham’s transfer dealings ahead of the season kick off tomorrow. Despite the current upheaval upstairs in the boardroom it appears that ‘business as usual’ in the transfer market has indeed been the order of the day – eventually.

It wouldn’t be West Ham if transfer business was conducted early on in the summer, but perhaps this season there are extenuating circumstances with the Staveley hostile takeover bid blindsiding the board room – and possibly thwarting Daniel Kretinksy’s hastily hatched plans from June – to inject money into the club.

The confirmation that Koppen’s number one target Arne Engels has been captured from Celtic – and hopefully announced as a Hammer this weekend – comes as a relief to those of us who had a gnawing doubt that there might just be a big fat zero in the transfer kitty.

Indeed a busy week has now culminated with another transfer agreement alongside the Engels deal, according to footballinsider:

“Sources: Aaron Wan-Bissaka ‘agrees in principle’ to join Aston Villa“

The player’s personal terms were always likely to be the stumbling block, so the claim in the report that ‘The Spider’ has agreed a deal with Unai Emery’s side should see the transfer fee plain sailing by comparison as the two clubs near agreement:

“The Midlands giants are in negotiations with West Ham on a final fee for the 28-year-old, thought to be in the region of £20-25million.”

Which will boost Koppen’s transfer kitty further, and the huge Wan Bissaka wages come off the monthly payroll.

With the boxes ticked for a winger and a midfielder, the striker and centre back on Nils Koppen’s ‘to do’ list will now take centre stage – too late for the Burnley fixture but, providing the quality of players match those recruited so far, few West Ham fans will be complaining if the deals get done late in the window.

If it means the Hammers somehow land Troy Parrot and Axel Disasi before deadline day (we can dream), there’ll be no complaints. For a change.

Those extra additions might go some way to justifying the Hammers’ position as favourites in the toughest league in world football. As Wolves found out last night, there are no easy games in this division.