West Ham United‘s summer transfer window is shrouded in some mystery. Fan frustration has arisen due to reports of a limited £100 million budget, seemingly insufficient to significantly strengthen the squad. Calculations suggest this would only allow an average spend of £12.5 million per player across eight signings.
This has sparked criticism towards the board, particularly considering West Ham’s projected record turnover exceeding £365 million. Fans question why the club, seemingly awash with revenue, can’t allocate more funds for transfers.
However, a recent revelation by football finance expert Kieran Maguire adds a surprising twist. Maguire, on his “Price of Football” podcast, analysed West Ham’s financial health using EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation). Amazingly, West Ham ranked third in the Premier League for EBITDA, behind only Arsenal and Brentford, both known for exceptional financial management.
This suggests West Ham might be in much better financial shape than initially perceived. This aligns with an earlier report by Hammers News, where a club insider mentioned a “bit of money” for transfers, with player sales potentially boosting the kitty further. However, the insider also highlighted wage limitations as a significant concern. The club’s total wages cannot exceed a specific percentage of turnover, potentially restricting spending despite healthy finances.
The true picture of West Ham’s transfer budget remains unclear. While Maguire’s analysis indicates potential for more spending, wage restrictions could be a significant hurdle. Balancing these factors will be a crucial challenge for the club this summer. Fans will undoubtedly continue to monitor the situation closely as West Ham navigates the transfer window.
£100m of players also expands the wage bill significantly – perhaps by c.£25m per annum. You don’t just pay for the players once, you also have to keep paying them!
True
But future salaries are paid out of future earnings!
If they brag about cash to spend other clubs put the price up! So they have learnt to keep transfer kitty and dealings close to their chest – the right approach!