By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
West Ham fans who think the club have been behind the curve in recruitment this summer could be in for a surprise on Friday.
That’s because Hammers ITK ExWHUEmployee has hinted that there is a medical booked for an as-yet-undisclosed signing.
All very smoke and mirrors, of course, but Ex has been front and centre of a number of stories during this window and was the source who disclosed that West Ham had switched their attentions from Troy Parrott to Joel Piroe.
Indeed, West Ham eventually walked away from the Parrott deal before moving quickly for the former Leeds striker.
Mystery West Ham medical booked
Piroe completed his switch to East London yesterday and, as I covered in my Five Things West Ham Fans Need to Know About Joel Piroe, the 27-year-old brings a proven Championship goalscoring record.
But according to Ex’s latest update, he’s set to have some company soon.
I’ll leave it to others to speculate on the identity of the player because, at this stage, I don’t have a Scooby.
But there’s certainly no shortage of possibilities.
Plenty still on Koppen’s shopping list
The Hammers remain in need of a central defender, while another winger is surely still required to provide cover for Jarrod Bowen and Manor Solomon.
West Ham have already been looking at that particular problem, with Nils Koppen retaining an interest in young Viking FK winger Edvin Austbø following the collapse of the Reiss Nelson deal (or has it?).
Left-back could also quickly become a priority if El Hadji Malick Diouf leaves, while I would argue that even after signing Piroe, West Ham could still do with another striker.
Nuno has hardly hidden his desire for reinforcements either, having recently publicly stated that West Ham need more bodies.
So there’s a fair few options.
Whoever the mystery man turns out to be, let’s hope Friday’s covert medical is the start of a busy few days at the London Stadium.
Medical will be for the young Man chap called Divine Mugassa will it not?
Can’t help thinking the signing of former teammates Manor Solomon and Joel Piroe is an absolute masterstroke.
Please be a left sided CB, preferably from a club in the EFLand not a futsal player.
My apologies Gonzo.
I would hazard a guess it’s DEVINE MUKASSA
Wish to apologise a bit for my earlier post because although I was right and it is a loan (cause we can’t afford anything else) he is an exciting and versatile young attacking talent and not an unwanted squad player. Competition for Pablo and can even cover on the right. Parrott and the lack of funds still leaves a bad taste but we are getting decent quality in, just need plenty more.
This article must have raised most comments ever.
Just like Grand National whose going to fall at next fence.
Who will be over the finishing line first (or will they all fall)
In order of preference:
Disasi / Duberry / Thomas / Job / Louza / Elliott / Isidor / Kabore / Cancellieri / Delap / unlikely due to injury Lawlor.
Probably cheating but with so options need to back favourites and outsiders.
Vardy or Brighton c/bk_NO.
Duberry from Brighton
Divine Mukassa from Man City
Article already stating he’s coming back hopefully not a trick question and whoever it is must be additional to Divine.
Divine Mukasa from man city, year loan
Julian Dick – Out of retirement 🙂
Carlton Cole?
Them involved have come 2 there sences and gone and bought ”PARROTT” i truly hope anyway. anyone agree with me. ???
I think it would be good 2 go back in time and bring back the old 4 4 2 or 3 5 2 and have 2 decent strikers up front smashing in plenty of goals C O Y I’s
It’s lingard isn’t it
It’ll be a third-choice GK, someone on a free, over 35 and under 80. I’m refusing to get optimistic or excited.
Simon Webster was mentioned when we got Joel, wouldn’t be surprised if we went back for the freebie
Zaha did nothing in Turkey so bet he is sniffing around for the cover for the wings.
A CM with experience is mostly missing – and not seen us linked with any either!
It’s Daniel Job amf I for one think it’s a brilliant signing. the Nigerian Messi
Vardy, I expect. Because on the face of it, that seems the easiest to do.
Which is fine because he’ll get goals as an impact sub.
It is Adam Webster
Adam Webster
Nelson – another underwhelming injury prone player. Well done West Ham FFS!
Reid’s Nelson I reckon
Georgy Earthy, £25m.
The board see the error of their ways. Stating we spend big.
Perfect fit for the team declares Nuno.
Fine with it being Vardy, think it will be fun.
Lets hope its not nelson with his injury record it would be a big step backwards hopefully the powers that be have learned from past mistakes fingers crossed
Why do we keep saying we switched our attention from Parrott to Piroe when AZ have made it clear that Betis was always Parrott’s first choice and he did not want to come to us? That’s why they’ve been forced to sell him for a sum similiar to that which we offered.
No doubt the excitement over this mystery signing will be short-lived when it transpires it is a loan to replace another first team player exiting our club.
Mido was seen in Westfield
Emmanuel Fernandez in place of Disasi
I would guess at Vardy or maybe Dissasi
DEFFINATELY NOT DISSASI MAYBE REISS NELSON
Vardy incoming
It’s Vardy isn’t it 👀🤬
Yes let’s hope so. Seems like always we’ve left a lot very late when we are into the season and preseason is gone.
The positivity that Kretinsky created and seemingly some professionalism coming into the club has faded badly.
Still so many to go and lack of clarity on enough incomings – it seems noone especially NES knows what the best team is or will be.
Hope I’m wrong, but very much doubt we have been handed a wad of cash, so another loan arrangement for an unwanted squad member seems likely. Can’t see us punting £9m on a talent from the Norwegian league. It is exciting up to a point but only 12 days left in the window and our squad is still so thin.
As long as it ain’t vardy, saha or pogba. Hopefully Job or Louza
Watched Toulouse v Monaco a few months back when in Toulouse. Monaco were 2 nil up when Pogba came on in the 2nd half. He was awful, gave the ball away continuously and it ended 2-2 lol
Amass from United (to replace Diouf)
Coufal from Hoffenheim (to replace AWB)
Lawlor from Cardiff (to replace Disasi)
Nelson from Arsenal (to replace Traore)
Austbo from Viking FK (to add depth to the wings)
Vardy free transfer (to replace Wilson)
Any of the above would be nice… we need more bodies..
A CDM would be nice.
Potts anyone?
Antonio