You might well have missed this yesterday, compared with the headline stories of Jonathan David, Angel Gomes and the players for which West Ham have been outbid: But one small article needs some contemplation because it signifies an enormous and very welcome shift in the Hammers’ shift in transfer strategy.
It seems the message is getting through that having the smallest but oldest squad in the Premier League is not the approach and just because players are offered at affordable amounts doesn’t make them a good buy.
Niclas Fullkrug of course is the standout ‘worst buy’ on account of his age/value alone. At thirty one he was never going to have a resale value and Steidten forking out over £25 million was always a huge risk considering in three years he’d be worthless.
The fact that his value and his fitness both plummeted, (apart from being fuel for the ‘I told you so’ brigade – me included) means that West Ham got the worst of both worlds with virtually zero output, huge fitness issues and a player who might be worth 30% of what he cost just 12 short months ago. Big PSR losses again. Unsustainable going forward.
So Gonzo’s article yesterday finally illustrates that West Ham have learned from their wretched policy of buying players at the latter stages of their career. Yoane Wissa at 29 would have been a ‘very West Ham’ buy: Twenty something million for a burly ‘Antonio’ type player would have been too much to resist a couple of seasons ago.
Now, though, instead of rushing in and bringing another older striker looking for a last payday like Ings and Fullkrug – to the club, the Hammers have finally seen sense and left well alone.
Of course the jury is still out, until a 25 year old or – or younger – frontman comes through the door at London Stadium but the shift in strategy is very Potter and to be celebrated as a huge step in the right direction.
