ON THE FACE of it, West Ham’s transfer window is looking up. After a barren and outwardly inactive first month, the Hammers finally got off to a delayed start once the Mohammed Kudus sale was signed off. Potter and Macaulay apparently got their man when a very fresh faced El Hadji-Malick Diouff arrived from Slavia Prague as the Kudus money was put to good effect.
This morning the news of another signing in the offing of Kyle Walker Peters on a’free’ Bosman ruling transfer was broken: An eminently sensible deal which gives West Ham improved defensive cover and further dynamism on both flanks as “KWP’ can play on both sides of the defence.
Sensible to bring in a homegrown player to tick the boxes and provide cover for the AFCON when both Diouff and Wan-Bissaka will be absent.
However the murmurings of disquiet will become loud blasts of unrest if a new report this lunchtime proves correct a that West Ham are seeking to finalise another defensive player as their third summer signing.
Givemesport.com claims in their article that the Hammers want to sign ‘phenomenal’ [their words, not mine] Taylor Harwood Bellis, Southampton’s relegated centre-back, as their next signing, despite him being injured:
“After Walker-Peters: West Ham Preparing to Sign ‘Phenomenal’ Star…The one-time England cap, and Three Lions debut goalscorer, has been sidelined with an injury that he picked up at the back end of last season, and although he is only expected to return in August, it hasn’t put the Hammers off completing a deal.’
A natural fit into West Ham’s fast growing hyphenated squad: Taylor Harwood-Bellis
Three defensive signings in a summer when funds are scarce will be alarming. The dreadful midfield was responsible for leaking goals – and being unable to create chances to score at the other end – and yet there is no news to suggest that steps are concrete to revitalise the middle of the pitch where the priority must be to bring in new faster, combative creative players.
And nothing, whatsoever, on forwards. No news regarding a striker or two, just yet another centre back when there are currently already four. Of course, deals have been rumoured to sell Mavropanous and Aguerd but whilst nothing is concrete, talk of further bolstering the defence and ignoring the ‘attacking options’ has more than a whiff of an overly defensively-minded emphasis.
I guess I need to take a dose of my own medicine and ‘be patient’- but with the first summer pre-season game tomorrow against Grasshoppers, West Ham will line up with the same midfield and the same attack as they finished last season’s dreary mess of a campaign.
The squad will end up..
AWB, JWP, KWP, THB, DCL, OMG, WTF, LOL
I hope not. He is an English Dinos
THB is a much better signing, if it happens, than KWP
I can just see it now,Antonio lining up against Sunderland,striker sorted,Sullivan laughing all the way to the bank
Defensively we struggled last season. I think I read we conceded 90 goals, the most since 1967 and had only 7 clean sheets, the fewest since 2008. Offensively we were ok, not brilliant but probably average. Largely due to Bowen and Souchek but at least we were scoring goals.
“Nothing whatsoever on forwards”. We’ll end up with Ollie Watkins
I have never seen what people do in this guy, hope am wrong but seems to be someone that looks the part is technically excellent but then look at the results his team ship goals for fun and he is sometimes the cause.
The first two signings are wingbacks, which suggests they are used in attack too and didn’t THB score on his England debut?
I understand we are looking for a better goalkeeper too, so don’t be too disappointed if this happens.
It looks to me like we have an actual player acquisition plan in place, which is a great leap forward in my opinion and it looks like we haven’t finished selling & buying yet.
Please not Wilson
Want to build with a younger player
We are trying to get the age down
I beg you not him
Agreed midfielder and attack need to vastly improve we need strong energetic players and a proper goal scorer and quickly. No doubt a few sales are needed so let’s get on with it.
55 million in for Kudus and 40 million out for Magic and THB leaves 15 million for 2 midfielders , 2 strikers and a GK . The suggestion is that the Board won’t finance any more until another couple of players are sold . This could be a big problem with just 4 weeks to go before the start of the new season not to mention no preseason for these as yet unsigned players .
Talk about defensive minded, going down….
Good signing if true. An upgrade on both Mavro and Aguerd (who may both be sold), English and young, so will have sell on value.
The basis of this team has to be on a solid defence. We can’t just buy a striker and expect our problems to be solved. We’ve been haemorrhaging goals for about 2 years now so i’m all for having a younger, more dynamic back line before we then fix other problems.
That’s not to say we don’t need legs in midfield, another winger and then a striker…
Wilson and Vardy available on frees and resign Antonio…..No? this is West Ham and Sullivan is doing the deals so do not be surprised.
What does matter what order we fill our gaps, as long as they are all filled in another few weeks with quality.
only player from Southampton we should go for is Mateus Fernandes in my view. Stong, lovely on the ball and battles hard. Great on the turn and possibly the type of young player we need in the middle of the pitch
We need two midfielders and a striker minimum before the start of the season, KWP and THB aren’t bad signings they’re decent squad players but we need game changers in the first eleven otherwise we are bang in trouble next season.
Does potter understand that attacking is allowed, in fact it’s encouraged by some!
Disagree. THB, if available, for £20m is a solid buy with lots of upside – plus it probably means a departure of Mavropanos for a decent fee.
After THB we’ll need a striker, a midfielder that can run, and a new keeper. That’ll be a good window, let’s not get greedy with money we don’t have.
Spot on, Ron. Spot on
THB will cost £35m plus addons at least. Better to go with free transfers and not waste any money. Search Europe for suitable players, free means can pay better wages. Team needs to be a mix of experience and youth.
To be quite honest expect another poor season, no matter how much is spent.
Odds for a relegation battle and a new manager, must be high.
I can’t see a problem with this. We need another centre back. OK we also need to fill other positions but we can still do that. It isn’t as though the acquisitions should be done in order of need. Negotiating to sign a player is difficult enough, so get an agreement when you can. Now for a creative midfielder and a goalscorer.