Anyone who has watched West Ham‘s performances this season will have been struck by the dearth of midfield creativity. It has been written about incessantly – there’s no mobility or creativity and it urgently needs ripping down and starting again in the summer after Steidten and Lopetegui created “the midfield that cannot run.”
Factor in the spectre of a Lucas Paquetá ban if found guilty this month and West Ham are going to be sorely in need of talent come the June window opening. The Hammers had put an offer to soon-to-be free agent Angel Gomes in January, as part of that recruitment strategy. The Lille play maker is going to be available on a ‘fee-free’ Bosman deal but will be far from ‘free’: A great big fat signing-on fee will be payable well into the tens of millions.
Reported today by tbrfootball.com, it seems that West Ham’s offer from January has nonplussed Gomes’ representatives as he is out there considering moves from other Premier League clubs, so much so that their article today suggests:
“West Ham back away and decide they will not rival Tottenham to sign ‘amazing’ England international”.
Back in January West Ham made what they thought was a compelling bid: “Some weeks since the offer, West Ham owner David Sullivan has decided the club should move on – given the player is continuing talks with other clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur.”
Apparently the West Ham negotiators are unhappy that their bid is potentially being used as leverage to move other suitors to bid higher.
“The Hammers could return to talks, although it would need Gomes’ representatives to indicate their willingness and at this stage, they have backed away from talks.”
Which is just not a strategy which will land top players at London Stadium this summer. Either the price is heading too high for the Hammers or the club has just run out of patience. Either way, if the report is correct West Ham will lose out on a potentially transformative creative midfielder.
After watching the last couple of games, it is crystal clear that whatever the price, the Irons need new quality in their midfield and giving up on the Gomes deal is just an indication that West Ham will have to go looking for, and settle for second best.
Lucas Paquetá denies all of the FA allegations made against him.
Sullivan is back in control of signings everybody, what could go wrong?
Let’s hope any target turns out better than the Evan Ferguson one?
There is some weird thinking from our negotiators here. Experience of the Rodriguez affair would seen to indicate that despite hiked wages and agents’ fees, profit can be made if things go pear-shaped. If Mr. Sullivan were to stop the inflammatory tactic of low balling, derisory offers, perhaps West Ham would be treated with more respect in the signing of quality players with youth and genuine potential.
Not too sure that Gomez would offer the creativity needed but would certainly be a challenging upgrade.
Finally, this sense of being used by agents as a stalking horse might lead to poor decision making. It was the same thing griped about with Amorin, leading to the disastrous appointment of Lopetegui… and the quashing of any expectation of success for this season!?
his name will come up again closer to deadline day as we try to nab him one last time in a “we tried” declaration.
but you guys will mention him every week until then
Many teams will refuse to play a player during contract negotiations to try and bully them into signing a new deal . This is probably why he’s not being selected to play for Lille right now . Gomes wants a club preferably in CL and big money and unfortunately Westham can’t offer Euro football . FLOPetegui has a lot to answer for . Who will he scam next ?
A non story superseded by a non story
Still it’s been good for clicks
I know money is tight but so long as Sulivan don’t try to make money out of the situation and anger the management team now we have one that seems to work
Gomes isn’t creative he is a player that slows the pace down, it’s obvious he is wasting our time, we want players that want to join us not opportunists and chancers, I am not sure Gomes is physical enough for the PL it’s a different game to Ligue 1 and International football the only reason Sully wants him is because he is a freebie. If we can’t sign the players promote from the academy until we can afford the ones we need it’s difficult to be relegated so we can probably risk another patchy season.
Hard to tell as we’re not involved, but if he’s being a greedy mercenary then happy to steer clear and get someone who wants to come
Spent the whole of yesterdays match on the bench, similar to mid-week. He doesn’t seem to be getting any game time of late. Is he actually any good? Is a Lille reserve what we need to revive our fortunes? Genuinely interested to know.