Anyone who has watched West Ham‘s performances this season will have been struck by the dearth of midfield creativity. It has been written about incessantly – there’s no mobility or creativity and it urgently needs ripping down and starting again in the summer after Steidten and Lopetegui created “the midfield that cannot run.”
Factor in the spectre of a Lucas Paquetá ban if found guilty this month and West Ham are going to be sorely in need of talent come the June window opening. The Hammers had put an offer to soon-to-be free agent Angel Gomes in January, as part of that recruitment strategy. The Lille play maker is going to be available on a ‘fee-free’ Bosman deal but will be far from ‘free’: A great big fat signing-on fee will be payable well into the tens of millions.
Reported today by tbrfootball.com, it seems that West Ham’s offer from January has nonplussed Gomes’ representatives as he is out there considering moves from other Premier League clubs, so much so that their article today suggests:
“West Ham back away and decide they will not rival Tottenham to sign ‘amazing’ England international”.
Back in January West Ham made what they thought was a compelling bid: “Some weeks since the offer, West Ham owner David Sullivan has decided the club should move on – given the player is continuing talks with other clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur.”
Apparently the West Ham negotiators are unhappy that their bid is potentially being used as leverage to move other suitors to bid higher.
“The Hammers could return to talks, although it would need Gomes’ representatives to indicate their willingness and at this stage, they have backed away from talks.”
Which is just not a strategy which will land top players at London Stadium this summer. Either the price is heading too high for the Hammers or the club has just run out of patience. Either way, if the report is correct West Ham will lose out on a potentially transformative creative midfielder.
After watching the last couple of games, it is crystal clear that whatever the price, the Irons need new quality in their midfield and giving up on the Gomes deal is just an indication that West Ham will have to go looking for, and settle for second best.
Lucas Paquetá denies all of the FA allegations made against him.
