As deadline day nears, the more interesting the ‘stories’ that break. Trying to see the wood for the trees last August was an exercise in mental dexterity as players went on loan, came in by jet – literally – and signed on deadline day in a manner we’d never seen at West Ham.
Still four days to go until Monday night’s close of the transfer window and stories come thick and fast. One of the more interesting ones to be chased down today in search of ‘reality’ is the claim on twitter / x that Benfica striker Arthur Cabral is about to sign for West Ham:
So we will be doing our best to chase this down and cry ‘fact or fiction’ as soon as possible. Early in the window Brazilian Cabral was linked with West Ham who offered to loan the player from Benfica – which was given short shrift by the Portuguese club.
Benfica fans themselves seem to think the prospect of West Ham paying €18 million is hilarious – clearly some at the club don’t rate him, which raises the possibility that West Ham’s interest may be feigned to distract from the real target.
One thing is clear, sources at West Ham are doing everything they can to keep their cards close to their chest these last 48 hours – unusually – which suggests to us that the club is working really hard to keep tight lipped so something is definitely about to break!
So, we’ll see what we can prise out of our contacts at the club this morning. Until it is proven, take these stories with a pinch of salt. The problem with social media now is that very small stories can very easily find their way into the public domain: This could be a case in point. None of us want to miss the first ‘blips’ on the radar that indicate a new striker incoming – but at the same time, best to remain quietly cynical: This is West Ham United after all.
This isn’t a Macaulay finding, been around long before Macualey or Stiedten.
Sulli clearly working his little list here. I cannot understand the club. We bring in recruitment experts and Sulli says nah too expensive, here’s a cheaper option. They say okay you’re the boss, and when the signing goes wrong the recruitment expert is sacked.
Rotten!
All the non-existent signings & rumours for this one, that one or anyone else, are pointing towards the ‘We Tried FC’ old chestnut.
We’ve had months knowing that we need a striker, you can’t tell me that our recruitment staff, past or present haven’t done any ground work on this..
Why leave it to the last minute deadline day panic?
If we really wanted Ferguson, we should have stopped fannying about & and gotten it done. Brighton are laughing, there are now supposedly 20 clubs interested in signing him. How high on that list are we going to be & how big a draw is playing under Potter again?
Latest rumour is Chelsea (prob agent talk to force a move sooner) but if true, CL fight or mid-table slog 🤔
Personally I get bored reading on here & other sites, half a dozen different names thrown about daily that we are on the verge of signing.
I get that you’re afraid of missing out on the scoop but as certain people (sullivan’s puppet) boast that they have a top source at the club, bs rumours should be put to bed pretty quickly.
Sorry but it’s ridiculous…how does it benefit
US waiting to the very last minute to sign players they have had 2 months to make some sort of plan and identify plsyets ..you csnt sign players before the window ..but you csn stil mske plans and talk to clubs anytime…but unbelievably we are still getting stories of different players who really have no chance of signings with 3 days left..;,,,,.its got we tried written all over it;;;,
…dont see problems with other prem clubs signings…players moving every day..
Dangerous game there playing again…🙄
Something is about to break?😂😂😂😂😂
Eternal optimism, they have told potter to get on with what you have, maybe in the summer, and oh, by the way, tell everyone it’s your fault, just like Moyes did
Why publish all these transfer rumours, if they are without substance? Its getting ridiculous on this forum
2 Goal striker? Does this mean Graham Potter has Given Up on a Young Striker, Evan Ferguson, who he has worked with & knows! or will Sullivan’s piggy bank not go so far?
Doesn’t do much for the blood pressure but alot of deals will probably only happen in the last couple of days of the window when clubs realise that can’t sell that player for a load of cash so better to loan and they know what replacements they can get in. I’m looking forward to 4 days time we will know the truth to all these rumours.
2 Goal striker? Does this mean Graham Potter has Given Up on a Young Striker, Evan Ferguson, who he has worked with & knows! or will Sullivan’s piggy bank not go so far?
I’ll save you the time, this isn’t true.
Hope so!
And isn’t it welcoming to hear a manager say we won’t sign a striker for the sake of it. Listening to Potter say he knows the type and quality of striker needed, and what he can pay, but he won’t drop his standards and buy for the sake of it. Sounds like the right approach to developing a lasting strategy even if we go without until the Summer.
It’s also a thinly veiled attempt at trying to hide the fact that Potter knows no one is being bought/loaned this window.
“The problem with social media now is that very small stories can very easily find their way into the public domain” part of the problem springs to mind.
The only thing close to sullivans chest is his wallet
If the club are trying to be tight lipped, then shouldn’t we do the same? Although I suppose if stories are being leaked on any kind of platform, the guys in the industry would know anyway. Personally I’m eager to hear new signings are coming in, but getting a bit fed up with all the non-stories! Is it possible we can get Cabral, Ferguson and a midfielder? Seems like the young Dutch lad isn’t coming?
It is a difficult path to walk, Matt: if we ignore these stories completely then we risk missing ‘the one’ that develops ( I had this with people arguing my Kilman and JCT stories in August were total BS) – but if they’re in the public domain we try and evaluate so as to ignore the crackpot ones and just bring the ‘possibles’ to light for greater scrutiny- which hopefully is how I’ve phrased this one.
Be assured there is no truth in the BS circulating that we’ve agreed a deal here. He isn’t getting a kick at Benfica so his agent is pushing an agenda. Move on.
Is this going to be a bid of hope with no expectancy like many others?
More carrots dangling to give fans what they want to hear.
Potter wants Chukwuemeko. Chukwuemeko wants West Ham. Board promised him. What’s hold up?
Not first time this guy has been linked to whu, Moyes 2021. Apparently similar style to Antonio.
Couldn’t agree more jeep.
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