The low key confirmation- so much so that it took a while to register – of the appointment of West Ham United’s Director of Recruitment signals a gear shift for the Hammers this summer as the club accelerate their change from failed Premier League squad to genuine Championship challengers.
Nils Koppen is towing the party line of course, as you’d expect, with his confirmatory statement: ‘We want to keep the core squad intact” – which will reassure those 45000 who’ve signed up for next season’s entertainment.
With Fernandes gone though and Spurs’ £85 million paying down some of the most pressing debt, the Irons do have an urgent need of an addition to their midfield ranks.
With Soucek sidelined, Potts, Magassa, Kanté and Alvarez (don’t forget ) are all somewhat one dimensional, combative players but without the flair to turn defence into attack.
Which probably explains the growing noise around Sydie Peck. The young England u21 midfielder has been linked numerous times with a Sheffield United exit, now that the Blades have lost their parachute payments and are, frankly, almost as strapped for cash as the Hammers but without a billionaire’s steadying hand in the boardroom.
It was the star.co.uk that first joined the dots on West Ham’s strategy this summer with their headline:
“Huge £85m transfer could have major Sheffield United consequence amid West Ham United’s Sydie Peck interest”
Claiming the Fernandes deal would pave the way for Peck’s pursuit:
“West Ham’s need for a Fernandes replacement, and the huge sum in their back pocket, could make them the most active threat to United’s hopes of keeping hold of one of their prized assets.“
On the face of it, West Ham fans may be slightly underwhelmed after seeing first Paqueta then Fernandes sold and now staring at a skills vacuum in the midfield.
Peck may not be a creative genius but as a dynamic and tenacious central midfielder known for his high work rate, tactical intelligence, and aggressive ball-winning, he may suit the Championship challenge perfectly. The sticking point? A £25 million suggested asking price may yet send Koppen off in an other direction after all.
Either way, with a Director of Recruitment in place there’s the hope that action overtakes inertia at last.
Don’t mention the brazilian.
‘Nils Koppen is towing the party line’ Really? Wonder where he’s toeing (sic) it to.
He doesn’t sound any different to what we have Martin. Of the list you produced one can be defensive, one box to box, but then we need pure creativity. Is Eyal Berkovic still playing….somewhere? 😊⚒️⚒️
Agreed, hence the interesting link with Portuguese u21 midfielder Gustavo Sa is promising. But we’ve seen how bang-average Pablo is so the jury is well and truly out on signings from the Portuguese leagues until Sa gets some game time.
If Gustavo Sa comes in he needs to be given a chance and accept he’s not a direct replacement for Fernandes.
Don’t expect to sell a player for £85m pay £17m and get one with same experience.
Hopefully under new regime he won’t play two games and then be pushed into U21s.
If they do that would be disrespectful.
Guilherme had same potential but was never given a chance under Potter.
Then Potter sold the aged/academy players to trim squad.
If a good tackling defensive midfielder of Championship level costs 25M, should avoid selling Summerville (who scores goals, makes assists, is PL level but is inconsistent), for 50M. He’ll be worth more to the club than the decent fee he’d generate. Anyhow talk is cheap, …unlike football😊