There has been a major development for West Ham’s dream of signing outcast Jack Grealish after approaches from Newcastle and Everton.
West Ham will be losing both Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta one way or another this summer.
So Graham Potter will need someone who brings guile and goals to replace them.
Newcastle United may yet have a say in Kudus’ future with the Ghanaian reportedly on Eddie Howe’s list of targets.
West Ham will be shopping in the same market as their former manager David Moyes and Everton.
Although Newcastle, with Champions League football, may have an edge over both for any mutual targets.
West Ham were given hope of subsidised Grealish loan
And the three clubs do have one it seems.
Many in West Ham circles love the idea of Jack Grealish as the ideal replacement for the likes of Kudus and Paqueta – who will be sold if he is not banned in the spot-fixing case against him.
But Howe and Moyes like Grealish for a move to Newcastle and Everton too.
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The England playmaker has barely featured for Man City this season and has been left out of Pep Guardiola’s squad for the Club World Cup.
With funds limited at West Ham until sales are made, a loan deal would be the only way the east Londoners could land a player like Grealish right now.
Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
So there was huge encouragement for Potter when a leading journalist revealed Man City have indeed made Grealish available for loan with a number of Premier League clubs interested.
Better still, the Etihad side know they will likely have to subsidise a big chunk of his enormous wages.
Manchester City would be reluctant to loan their £100m man to a rival for league standings.
So that would rule out Newcastle and give the likes of the Hammers and Everton hope.
Now there has been a major development for West Ham’s Grealish dream after Newcastle and Everton approaches.
Major development for West Ham’s Grealish dream after Newcastle and Everton approaches
The Hammers have taken a watching brief during the early exchanges of the club’s most important transfer window for years.
Much to the growing frustration of West Ham fans, who are already furious at claims the club has no money to spend until players are shipped out.
Now as the Irons sit on their hands, Newcastle and Everton have leapfrogged them in the race for Grealish by taking affirmative action.
The Magpies were the first to make contact with Man City this weekend.
Journalist Alan Nixon says Howe is trying to “rescue Grealish from his Manchester City hell” with a loan move.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
With talk Liverpool could try again for Anthony Gordon, Newcastle are lining up Grealish as a replacement for next season, Nixon claims on his Patreon.
Nixon also confirmed Grealish has “a few clubs after him” in the Premier League.
One of them, it has been revealed elsewhere, is Everton.
That’s according to Mail Sport journalist Mike Keegan who claims the Toffees have emerged as shock genuine contenders for Grealish with their new owners looking to “make a statement signing” ahead of the big move to their new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium.
Keegan reports that Moyes has been a big admirer of Grealish dating back to his time in charge of West Ham.
Hammers sitting on hands as Moyes and Howe take action
Like Nixon, Keegan claims a number of clubs want Grealish.
West Ham fans will be dearly hoping their club is one of them.
After all if Everton are genuine contenders for Grealish then why shouldn’t West Ham fancy their chances?
Especially on a loan where at least half his wages would be taken care of by Man City.
It looks like the Hammers are already behind the eight-ball, though, with their rivals jumping to the head of the queue.
And West Ham fans are in no mood for hard luck stories this summer.
The Hammers needed to make a fast start to this summer window. So far – although it is early days – it’s been anything but.