West Ham’s worrying Brian Brobbey update but Fabrizio Romano offers hope

West Ham supporters were staggered to learn the club were prioritising a move for ageing, injury-prone journeyman Andre Silva over young, powerful Ajax ace Brian Brobbey last night.

There was an exciting twist this morning, though.

It was revealed West Ham had pulled off a stunning striker smokescreen to land a deal for Dutch star Brobbey.

The move for the 22-year-old has captured the imagination of West Ham’s fans.

Graham Potter was offered more than 20 striker targets since taking over earlier this month.

And Brobbey is the man he has settled on for his first West Ham signing.

It was claimed Brobbey is heading to London for a medical as the Hammers finalise yet another deal with Ajax.

The excitement among supporters is understandable.

Brobbey has been linked with West Ham’s rivals Tottenham, Arsenal and Man United in the not-too-distant past.

The stocky forward scored 22 goals and laid on 12 assists for Ajax last season.

He has not been as prolific this term with four goals and six assists so far.

But West Ham are getting a the all-action striker who possesses the attributes the team are sorely missing.

Brobbey shares many traits with Michail Antonio but is arguably a more refined finisher and has better hold-up play.

This is West Ham United, though.

West Ham’s worrying Brobbey update

And things are never quite that straightforward.

Sure enough there’s been a twist this morning.

West Ham have shared a worrying Brobbey update but Fabrizio Romano offers hope.

Sean Whetstone counts majority owner David Sullivan – who is back in control of transfer deals – among his close contacts insider West Ham.

Whetstone shared the news about a deal being agreed with Ajax for Brobbey on Friday morning.

But he soon followed it up with news from a senior source at the London Stadium.

Whetstone says his sources have denied that a loan deal for Brobbey has been agreed.

“Not true, I wish it was,” the West Ham source told him.

He did offer some hope, adding that sources close to the deal still believe it will be concluded once financials have been sorted.

There was further hope from transfer reporter Romano as well.

Romano offers hope Hammers can still secure Brobbey

As long as West Ham can agree to structure their deal to make it a permanent, be it now or in the summer.

Romano has confirmed West Ham have made contact with Ajax over a deal for Brobbey.

But he insists there is ‘no chance for straight loan move’.

Romano states that West Ham must agree to include an obligation to buy or make the transfer permanent in January in order to advance in negotiations.

As things stand Ajax will not sanction what is known as a ‘dry loan’.

This is actually great news because it is forcing West Ham’s owners to put their money with their mouth is.

And the money is clearly there after the club made £40m and £57m offers for Jhon Duran.

West Ham’s fitting Duran back-up plan

Brobbey is just a year older than Duran, has many similar attributes but is far more experienced than the Villa striker.

He is also a lot less temperamental too.

On too many occasions in the past West Ham have made rash, hasty striker signings with little research into whether they are well suited to the Premier League or whether they will fit into the team and style of play.

This feels different, though. Not least because Potter has resisted so many targets in order to get the man he actually wants.

Brobbey thrives in the high-intensity pressing system Potter wants to implement. He uses his speed and work rate to harass defenders and force mistakes – a feature the Hammers have already seen under the new boss.

Brobbey’s mix of strength, speed, and finishing prowess makes him a well-rounded striker with immense potential.

Now West Ham must agree to make the deal permanent one way or another to pull off a real coup.

Brobbey would be reunited with Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez if he does join West Ham.

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