Even at this early juncture in a gruelling 46 game Championship season, the summer business conducted by Nils Koppen is starting to look pretty decent, as West Ham, despite sixteen player departures since they were relegated in May, now sit in second place in the league table over the international break.
With a six-game unbeaten run coming together as soon as their late transfer window business was complete, early poor form has been – for the time being at least – forgiven and forgotten.
Despite breaking the Championship record by spending £22 million on Arne Engels, it is another of the Hammers’ shrewd transfers that has caught the attention of footballleagueworld.co.uk in their article:
“10 best EFL Championship signings of 2026/27 so far”
Coming in ahead of Will Lankashear, Armario Cozier-Duberry and just pipped for top spot by Raul Jimenez‘ transfer back to Wolves, comes West Ham’s £5 million summer signing from Tottenham:
Solomon – amongst the best pieces of transfer business within the Championship
“#2: Manor Solomon Tottenham To West Ham United..Starting in seven of the Hammers’ first eight games, in which results have been fairly mixed, Solomon has still put in some strong performances to suggest his quality, on an individual basis, is far greater than many counterparts at the level…
Solomon does have the occasional Mohammed Kudus-like habit of running into blind alleys rather than releasing the ball earlier – but, in terms of sheer output and value for money, he’s near impossible to criticise for the tiny fee for which West Ham effectively stole him from Spurs.
And remembering his lack of game time prior to landing at London Stadium, you’d sense there is more to come from the winger as Nuno works out how best to deploy him to replicate his Leeds heroics from 2024.
I think against Millwall both he & Bowen dinked in some teasing crosses. He never gives up and just like Bowen there is often a useful ball in or it is recirculated. Not often have had 2 good wingers like this.
Just wonder how many goals a young Antonio would score playing no 9 with that kind of service, along with Mukasa & Engels easily able to chip some balls over the backline, for a quick player like him to run onto.
If only…
Note to Koppen: Please find a young Antonio equivalent. Ta.
Price tags mean nothing…..actions on the pitch are what matters most .
Seems decent enough to me, but Austvo looks to be nipping at his heels. Both look more than half decent and so does Engels and it’s a while since I’ve said that about our transfer business.