Outstanding Irons make new signings a tough job

As we head towards a new transfer deadline – that between English clubs – perhaps we need to be a little more realistic when trying to understand why we don’t get certain players.

I understand there are those who claim the state of the club has something to do with it although there are far more pragmatic reasons than that.

Right now, we know we are looking at defenders and strikers with Josh King becoming a prominent name in our thinking – personally, I’d love to see him in claret and blue.

But I worry that should we get injuries in midfield, for example, we now have no one to replace our top men.

I have often screamed for something to be sorted but here’s the reality; top defensive midfielders, for example, won’t come to West Ham knowing they have no chance of getting into the team unless Dec or Tomas and indeed Fornals get injured!

The same is true at the back – no player will replace Oggy or, at his best Issa Diop, whilst Balbuena looks far more at home in a back three of which Cresswell is a definite part.

However, there is more likelihood of a player eventually accepting given that Oggy is now 32 and the form of the other two can, let’s say, be indifferent.

The funds are available and the club is reportedly looking but I remain more concerned about the midfield, understanding fully that in Dec and Tomas we have two of the best in the PL and no player is likely to sacrifice regular first-team football for the Hammers bench.

It’s ironic that the outstanding form of those two is probably the major reason we can’t sign anyone of serious quality.