West Ham have cleared up the transfer situation amid conflicting reports over the finances available for Graham Potter to strengthen.
There is no doubt West Ham are in desperate need of new signings in the January transfer window.
A striker is the obvious priority for the Hammers.
But a midfielder is needed too, preferably a dynamic one who can play box-to-box.
There are several factors that make this an unusual window specifically for West Ham right now.
The change of manager, with Graham Potter replacing Julen Lopetegui, means a shift in the type of player needed and wanted by the Irons.
Then there is the fact West Ham’s season – bar a miraculous turnaround in results – is all but over with the European spots looking out of reach after the Spaniard’s dismal reign.
So do the club rush signings through now or keep their powder dry and start forward-planning for the summer?
West Ham set record straight on transfer plans
Although fans would understandably see the latter as a lack of ambition.
Finally there is the rather confusing financial situation after a £155m summer spend.
On the one hand West Ham went into the window being linked with loan deals.
Then it was confirmed by the club that a new £40m bid was made for Jhon Duran in the last two weeks.
Heading into the window a spokesman for the club’s owners made it clear West Ham were close to their PSR limit and needed to raise funds to buy.
The key word being ‘buy’ hence why the club have been linked with so many loan moves.
“But never say never,” the spokesman signed off in that update.
On the eve of the window opening, West Ham majority owner Davis Sullivan let it be known he is now controlling transfer business again, demoting technical director Tim Steidten.
As a result a club insider has since revealed Steidten is now likely to leave in June if not before.
Steidten has faced criticism over some of his summer dealings. The board are particularly furious with his insistence on the signings of injury-prone Niclas Fullkrug and untested Brazilian teen Luis Guilherme.
Fullkrug is out for another three months having only recently returned from a lay-off of the same length.
And Guilherme is reportedly for sale as talks take place with Saudi clubs.
Now West Ham have set the record straight on their transfer plans as the financial situation is explained.
West Ham have been linked with a host of strikers from Evan Ferguson to Rodrigo Muniz and midfielders such as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Ezechiel Banzuzi.
In many ways Sullivan made a rod for his own back with West Ham’s new £40m Duran bid.
West Ham financial situation explained
Hammers supporters are now, understandably, expecting the club has that level of money to spend in January.
Hammers News reached out to the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners for clarity on the transfer situation.
While fans may not like what they hear, the owners are not ruling out making a statement move if a deal is ‘too good to refuse’.
And the club are definitely looking at loans.
“There isn’t really any progress at the moment,” a spokesman for West Ham’s owners told Hammers News.
“Because we are up against wages – including two managers and amortisation of transfers – which can’t exceed 85 per cent of our turnover. And we’ve lost our European income.
“However, unless it’s a deal we can’t refuse, we are just looking at loans.”
Supporters should perhaps not be too disheartened by that update, though.
Although West Ham have done some of their best business in January, it is traditionally a risky time to commit to big deals.
So loans – with options or obligations to buy – are a sensible way forward given the various moving parts behind the scenes right now.
What West Ham fans will expect, though, is their club to be thoroughly organised heading into the summer window and for the profile of target to change drastically to fit with Potter’s style of play.
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