Revealed | Chelsea’s attempt to steal Hammers’ brightest youngster

West Ham United fans were hoping for great things in the winter window but had to settle for four signings as the Hammers ‘rebalanced’ their squad.

Castellanos, Pablo, Lamadrid and deadline day arrival Axel Disasi didn’t seem to fully balance the squad after ten departures but – according to a new report today- it could have been far worse had Chelsea’s plan come together:

The Blues were involved in their own attempt to snatch West Ham’s midfield brightest youngster Mateus Fernandes.

According to journalist Aarón Ramiro:

“Chelsea made contact with West Ham United in January regarding a potential transfer for highly rated 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes, as the Blues sought to bolster their midfield options, but #WHUFC clear no plan to sanction exit.”

Especially after the shock of Lucas Paquetá’s exit at the end of the window, the sale of young midfield maestro Fernandes would have seemed unthinkable: It may well have been, ironically, the sale of Paqueta and the £37 million’ incoming’ that enabled West Ham to ignore the financial lure of Chelsea’s potential bid.

Something of a foretaste of the unpleasant yet inevitable selling-off of the Hammers’ Crown Jewels  that will sadly but almost inevitably follow this summer if the club don’t stave off the threat of relegation.