West Ham’s biggest transfer challenge | Ironically, it’s not about money

West Ham are playing a dangerous game this summer, with Nuno Espírito Santo and the club reportedly focusing on two key targets, Axel Disasi and Gustavo Sá.

Nuno has made it clear to the recruitment team that he wants players that can perform at the top level, and is reluctant to entertain players that would only suit the Championship: And therein lies the club’s biggest challenge.

Disasi appears unlikely to sign early in the window. His move hinges on whether a top European or Premier League club comes in for him, understandable, given that joining West Ham would mean dropping into the Championship for at least a season.

A loan with an obligation to buy if West Ham are promoted remains the most sensible structure, but Chelsea want a guaranteed fee now, which may be the only way the deal progresses. Even then, the player is intent on staying at the highest level and with promotion far from guaranteed, the move is anything but straightforward.

The delay over Sá is even harder to explain. The only obvious sticking point seems to be the transfer fee. Falmacio were reportedly in no rush to sell their star midfielder, especially after agreeing a €20m deal with RC Strasbourg for Ibrahima Ba, a move that has dramatically collapsed after Ba failed his medical.

That setback may have changed their stance, but West Ham’s hesitation to secure a deal over Sa remains puzzling.

A key point he is, arguably, missing is that the squad can have a minimum of five loan players, which would work well for the Hammers if they wanted to bring in younger players from the Premier League. Jaden Dixon at Arsenal is one such player.

Nils Koppen has cast the net further, and there have been links to three players at Celtic, along with Dylan Lawlor at Cardiff City.

When we spoke to one of our transfer sources, they made it clear that we are not close to signing anyone. Given how urgently both positions need strengthening before the new season, that’s a worrying situation for the club.