The reported interest in Wycombe Wanderers’ young striker is still very much alive. Back last month we suggested that West Ham were indeed looking for a ‘punt’ on a lower – league frontman to emulate the success shown by Jamie Vardy who of course came through the leagues himself.
The ‘lower league hitman’ as we called him was League 1’s Richard Kone who must be lighting up all the data boxes in Kyle Macaulay’s software to be still under consideration. We hear that it isn’t the issue of bringing an untried young third tier forward to West Ham so much as the price that is the sticking point.
Wycombe Wanderers are demanding twelve million pounds for him, according to EXWHUemployee reported in thewesthamway.com: Not far off the League one transfer record which Birmingham paid to Fulham for Jay Stansfield in 2024. Which does seem an enormous sum for a division three striker. The Hammers are reported as needing some ‘room for manouvre’ – plenty of other young untried strikers in the sea it would seem, many far less than Kone.
Sounds like a case of transfer window ‘chicken’ to see who blinks first. If the Hammers get some money in through player sales to actually go ‘buying’ instead of window shopping, there could well be a deal at a lower figure with add-ons. At present though, there’s little point in Wycombe compromising as the Hammers don’t appear ready to splash the cash on – anyone.
We already have youngsters from our academy, we should be bringing them into the 1st team on a regular basis otherwise what’s the point in keeping them.. seems a far better bet than paying a so called world beater 100 grand a week that’s so injury prone he,s in reality no good at all and these type are bleeding the club dry with there crap on field displays and attitudes..
C’mon Potter take a chance with 4 or 5 of the youth player’s.. can’t do any worse can it !!!
Sam, was offered Vardy for a million when he was at Fleetwood and turned him down.
I love the idea of WH fishing the lower leagues and taking a chance on some of these youngsters. I still think a prem team should go after Max Dean – he was at the MK Dons for a while and went to Gent, he is recovering from a bad knee injury, but first time I’ve known him pick up any injury, so despite our luck with players and injuries he is one I’d risk.
He’d be cheap, and like the lad above, he’s the closest I’ve seen to anybody being like Vardy – I’m sure we’ll see him in the prem at some point.
This player is so raw and is nowhere near the level required for a premier league player as of yet Martin. If we really are as skint as the club keep telling us then this purchase seems bewildering, we need every player to be able to go into the first team as a starter as we are likely to lose many of our first 11. I’d be very concerned if we spend big money on him in current circumstances
Hear what you are saying Dean, but I think we’re behind the times in this country – you say “raw” but look at how young so many of those PSG players were this season and they are “raw”. Sometimes its exactly what you need – I don’t think age or experience has any meaning (not in my book) by the time you are 18/19 you are either able, or you are not at this level and sometimes you just don’t know until you put them in the mix and let them fight it out.
Experience hasn’t really brought us anything in the past 24 months, so why not try something different. All-in-all the best teams usually have a blend of experience and youth.
All I know is we need to start doing things differently and everything tells me we need to try and find up and coming players and get back to West Ham being the leading pack in talent spotting.