Fixing West Ham’s static midfield is high on Tim Steidten’s list of priorities in the January window, all of which will have to be accomplished on the tightest of transfer budgets, we are told by the club. On account of the huge summer spend, and how close the club is to the income/salary ratio limits imposed by the Premier League, West Ham’s modest budget will have to stretch a long way in the January market: And that’s without factoring in PSR which would stop (unlikely!) big cash injections by the board.
So, all in all a tough task. It may account for the news published consistently at present linking West Ham with a loan striker in January.
Right now pretty much every Premier League club is being ultra cautious in their present spend, awaiting the outcome of the Manchester City hearing and making sure their own financial house is in order. So, big spending of any kind from Premier League clubs in January is unlikely.
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It may also mean that one of the Hammers’ priority targets for January in midfield will slip through their fingers now two very big hitters from Europe are reported to be on the trail of Hammers target, Sunderland player Jobe Bellingham. TBR Football
reported this week that both Real Madrid and:” Dortmund, who have known about Jobe for a long time, have been watching him closely along with Madrid.”
Even without massive competition from the Premier League, it looks tough for West Ham who, with no European football to offer and a modest budget to spend, are likely to be the losers and miss out on the driving midfield talent who would be a superb addition to any Premier League squad.
More likely West Ham will have to set more modest targets for next year’s recruitment.