What is it with West Ham and Southampton? The Hammers have been linked with about half a dozen names from a newly relegated side, which has to start the alarm bells ringing. Kyle Walker Peters is about to become a Hammer having let his contract run down and joined on a Bosman: And earlier today we reported on the Taylor Harwood Bellis interest which seems to be genuine.
Fortunately the earlier links with goal keeper Aaron Ramsdale seem to be conspicuous by their absence – ‘the relegator’ who was priced at £20 million seems to have fallen out of favour with the West Ham recruitment trio.
A more tasty report this afternoon in thesun.co.uk again links the Hammers with an active drive to sign Southampton’s midfielder Mateus Fernandes as a more convincing target than Liverpool’s Harvey Elliot: Maybe its is just the cynic in me that doesn’t rate the Irons’ chances of pulling off an Elliot capture.
The Sun seemed to think that:
“Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes is also being considered. The Hammers had made moves to sign both Walker-Peters and Fernandes last summer under Julen Lopetegui, with Potter still keen”.
Fernandes at nearer to £20 million would be a far more plausible addition to the next-gen Potter midfield. Now your’e talking: An attack minded but combative defensive midfielder ( if that isn’t a contradiction in terms) with excellent pace and passing would be manna from heaven to West Ham next season. And a far better use of £20 million than the accident-prone Ramsdale.
What is it with West Ham and Southampton? I think because they saw us coming with Ward-Prowse and know a mug is what!
Fernandes is definitely the right profile. Sullivan will probably overrule Potter though and insist on 30 year old Grealish a maverick, who is not a team player and will cost £10 million in loan fee. Short term razzle dazzle winning over long term squad building as usual
I agree right up to the point when I imagine what our season would be like with an injured Areola.
Would love to see that!!!