West Ham’s Transfer Silence Explained as Fabrizio Romano Ramps up Hype Machine

By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)

Every report from football ITK Fabrizio Romano involving West Ham seems to contain one recurring detail . . . the buying club are speaking with the player’s agents.

There is a very good reason for that, as Claret & Hugh has explained repeatedly . . . there is nobody at the club dealing with transfers at the moment.

Both Tottenham and Manchester United have been met with radio silence when asking about the availability of Mateus Fernandes.

Spurs Couldn’t Even Find The Right Number

In the case of Spurs, they had to resort to asking agents for phone numbers and email addresses of whom to contact to negotiate or even lodge offers.

Much has been made of West Ham supposedly holding out for £85m, with the mainstream media peddling the narrative that the Hammers are playing hardball.

The truth is that Team Kretinsky aren’t playing ball at all and West Ham’s silence is being interpreted as some kind of negotiating tactic.

There Is Nobody Else To Talk To

So it was no surprise yesterday to discover Romano claiming clubs were in negotiations with Crysencio Summerville’s agent . . . there is really nobody else to negotiate with.

All the key players and their agents have been informed of the club’s intention to keep them, which was certainly the case as recently as this weekend.

That doesn’t mean everybody will stay, of course.

Public Gesturing From Buying Clubs

My own opinion is that Summerville and Fernandes will likely force their way out of the club eventually.

But unless something drastic has occurred over the last two days, reports that anyone is close to completing a deal for West Ham’s big players are likely to be little more than public gesturing from buying clubs who can’t get an answer.

Because speaking to Jorge Mendes or another agent is one thing.

Actually finding somebody at West Ham to negotiate with is proving to be rather more difficult.