The continued tracking of creative midfielders is not perhaps as ‘sexy’ as reporting on the latest six foot four striker linked with a summer move to Stratford but it certainly shows there is much going on behind the scenes at London Stadium. With new head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay now getting to grips with the size of the summer rebuild part II, there is much work ahead with a tiny budget. So reports of ‘likely summer signings at €30 million plus’ that appeared this weekend for players such as Marco Verratti, for instance, need a reality check: The budget is not going to stretch that far.
Which is precisely why a report today linking the Hammers with a creative midfielder from Real Sociedad grabs my interest. Keen to bring in new players but short on funds, West Ham already have one asset – Nayef Aguerd – on a season long loan at Real Sociedad who, to all intents and purposes, is ‘gone’ from West Ham as he couldn’t leave fast enough at the end of the last window.
Aguerd had been agitating for a move for months and actually changed his agent to try and speed up the process before leaving with ‘fond farewells’ on his social media account last summer: It looked for all the world that he was not planning to come back.
With Sociedad loving Aguerd ( he’s been a cornerstone of their defence this season and really seems to have found his niche) it would of course be an easy deal to structure an Aguerd exchange for the creative midfielder in question, Brais Mendez, with whom West Ham were linked in the last window. Fichajes.net just this morning in their article “The Premier League is pressing again to take Brais Méndez” link the talented midfielder with West Ham, stating :
“Brais Méndez, one of the most prominent figures of Real Sociedad, has aroused the interest of West Ham” and that the Hammers have identified in the 28 year old “an ideal opportunity to strengthen its midfield”.
With a suggested value of €35 million (transfermarkt) – I’m sure there’s a deal to be done with Aguerd signing permanently for the La Liga side. A significant summer midfield upgrade on a budget, sounds good to me.
No more scams please . 28 years old for 35 million , hell no . Expensive coaches who aren’t real coaches ( LOSEpetegui ) , 20 million offer for Paqueta ONLY IF he’s found innocent , 30 million for an old broken donkey ( Fulkrug ) , 40 million for an injury prone defender who’s always unfit and can’t defend ( Todibo ) , Westham have dug themselves a financial hole already and can’t afford to be scammed any more .
what rubbish, Mr. Baker. Fullkrug is injury prone but certainly no donkey. Todibo was/is wanted by a host of clubs – where’s your evidence that he can’t defend? what’s that about a 20 mill offer for Paqueta? beat your drum however you like, but i smell the scam in your comment
Not at age 28; we should be recruiting players under 25 so that they can improve & have a good potential sell on value. Age 28 + there will be no value for selling on. Surely the club must learn from the many mistakes made in last few years
Great to welcome new columnist, Mr Tim Steidten!!!
28 years old, No premier league experience or re sale value, extortionate wages and just a few international caps to speak of. When can we get him through the door?!
I thought we was selling Aguerd to Barcelona for mega money?! Wouldn’t this be more helpful for PSR
tiny budget ahhh ok we here loud and clear the rest of the money been grabbed by the board as usual.
At least it feels like we’re already on the case, rather than it being a last minute kneejerk affair. The signs are promising.
…….and he’s 28!!!!!!
Clearly no resale value and precisely the demographic we are advised the club is no longer persuing.
Or have I missed something?
Not many exchange deals get done as they doubly complicate matters, twice as many things to possibly come unstuck.