An interesting admission from the always reliable ExWHUEmployee on the Hammers transfer policy.
Following our big spends on Paqueta, Aguerd and Scamacca and our decidedly lacklustre season, it would be fair to say that our recruitment process has not set the world alight.
It now seems that the board now want to sign players already in England to help ease the settling in period.
Whilst speaking on The West Ham Way podcast, Ex revealed his latest understanding of the club’s stance.
“We’ve been looking at players in the Championship.Following the signings of most of our players this summer. I think the only two actually from memory that came from a domestic club were [Max] Cornet from Burnley and [Flynn] Downes from Swansea, the rest all came from abroad.
“And obviously, whatever you put the factor down to, they’ve struggled to settle in England. Whereas previously when Moyes has signed players or the club have signed players – you know, you look at the likes of [Jarrod] Bowen, and Downes, and [Aaron] Cresswell and [Michail] Antonio, and I’m sure there’s other examples that I’ve forgotten – when you look at those signings, they tend to settle better.
“So the club is going to be looking towards the Championship.”
A case in point is Scamacca, who has found life difficult in the Premier League. A proven goal scorer with 16 Serie A goals in Italy last season but has seemingly failed to settle in. As a result the club then went out and signed an English “alternative” in the winter with Danny Ings coming over from Aston Villa.
It is odd though that our league rivals don`t seem to have the same bedding in problems that we have. Nevertheless, it does make sense to target players who already have their roots in the hurly burly of English football having played in the Championship.