West Ham watchers will have noticed a shift in reported targets ahead of the summer transfer window. Since Claret and Hugh wrote the articles concerning the club being snubbed by exciting prospects like Ezechiel Banzuzi and Angel Gomes, the headline-making new recruit stories have tailed off, to be replaced with the harsh reality of trying to attract new talent as the worst-placed survivor in the league.
A month ago the Hammers were linked with hugely talented Caoimhín Kelleher, Liverpool’s second choice ‘keeper who wants to move to a Premier League side where he will get guaranteed game time.
As the reality of Potter’s drab Premier League survivors’ style and underachievement bites, the club look less and less enticing for anyone other than the waifs, strays and survivors themselves: Hence footballfancast.com’s article – however enticingly it is titled as: “West Ham now leading race to sign new 26 y/o star as Irons ready £20m bid”.
Is actually the uninspiring link between the Hammers and relegated ‘keeper Aaron Ramsdale. “West Ham are now leading the race to sign Aaron Ramsdale ahead of Newcastle United and are preparing an offer worth €23m (£20m) this summer.”
I’m sure Ramsdale once was a keeper of merit but it is a depressing reality check on the ‘pulling power’ of this West Ham ship under Captain Potter, likely to become the ‘new normal’ at West Ham and the recurring theme of the whole summer window.
‘Fancast’ again:”One way that the Hammers could avoid the frustration of missing out on top targets whilst matching their ambitions is signing relegated stars”. Which sums it all up. Forgive me for not being awash with excitement at the prospect of THAT.
Liam Delap excepted.
Westham have priority signings to make and that’s not a goal keeper . Last summer the priority was striker and instead of securing Duran for 45 million , blew 25 million on an unproven kid and 25 million on an injury prone OG . Signings were split between Lopetegui , Steidten and Sullivan a recipe for disaster . Only Wan Bissaka has proven to be a good signing . Potter has no idea of who a good player is in part because that’s never been his job . Everything about Westham is obsolete and consequently there’s a grave threat of multiple relegations until such time that that competent new owners take over the club .
Some of our best players through the years have come from the next tier down. Conversely some of our worst players have been so called “stars” from the top leagues. A lot of championship players can be premier league ready from playing in (arguably) the toughest league in the world, so in a roundabout way our position may favour us, however much I am uncomfortable with it.
“Don’t sign relegated players… Except Delap!!”
News flash…. Good players get relegated. As do players with potential to improve. The mentality of some of the fan base needs to change if they insist on believing that this club is too good for these types of players. Surely the system of buying high profile names on big fees and wages who dont want to be at the club or feel they have anything to prove has shown to be flawed
Well said 👏
Ramsdale would be a massive upgrade on what we have,if we could get a good deal for him then it’s a no trainer really.
The question is though would he want to join another club that’s going to be at the wrong end of the table again for another season cos that’s where we are going to be.
Still sign him cheap then once we get relegated next season we’ll sell him on again so who cares really…..
This clubs gone anyway…cheers Sullivan
Such a neggy, muggy “story”. Ramsdale was/is an England international who had a mental health issue whilst being starter for a Champions league team. He’s not played badly at Saints and still in and around the England setup. He might value working with Potter because of his background in psychology. I’d say the new normal is terrible neggy articles on this website.
Ramsdale was a top keeper at arsenal why he signed for Southampton is beyond me so long as we bring in decent defenders than ramsdale will be a top keeper again at Southampton their results would have had a lot more goals scored against them I for one would be happy to have ramsdale as our main keeper
Ramsdale is still an upgrade and a good age.