Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey came close to joining the Hammers in the summer with Manuel Pelegrini a keen admirer.

The Irons boss had the midfielder very much on his short list of players according to sources who at the time told ClaretandHugh that he was a possible target.

His lack of match action and injury history eventually worked against him and instead the manager turned to Pablo Fornals leaving Ronford born Shelvey to battle his way back into favour on Tyneside.

The arrival of Steve Bruce helped and he has now played in five Premier League games and one Carabao Cup competition after making just 17 appearances last term.

In fairness to departed boss Rafa Benitez he had made it clear that he didn’t want to lose the player despite the obvious attraction a move back home would have held for the 27 year old.

Shelvey has commented in the past about the possibility of joining the Irons but is now focused on doing his job at Newcastle declaring: “I just want to be part of the squad. I get labelled that I’m a sulker and that I’m not part of this team

“I’m part of this team. I get paid by this football club. I’ll do what the manager tells me to do and what the hierarchy tell me to do.”

With Andy Carroll likely to be around and a guy who came close to joining us every Hammers fans will recognise some unwanted omens!