West Ham have just dropped a transfer bombshell that could potentially transform the entire landscape of their summer window.
Hammers News exclusive
The West Ham United board have been coming under intense fire from fans amid a quiet start to a vital summer transfer window.
It is not so much the fact there have been no signings for Graham Potter’s much-needed rebuild as yet.
But more so the bleak prospects of making any until West Ham offload players.
The situation has seen resentment towards the owners bubble to the surface once more.
It only serves to highlight what a good job David Moyes did keeping that strength of feeling at bay during one of the most serene periods of West Ham’s Premier League history.
With the club’s owners citing PSR as an issue restricting spending this summer, some supporters are predicting a toxic atmosphere at the London Stadium next season.
West Ham fans angry with owners over transfer stance
Especially if Potter is not backed to bring in a number of his own players and overhaul a team which has underperformed for the last season-and-a-half.
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West Ham say big losses of £100m plus will show in the next accounts coming in December.
Coupled with the fact the club have rather ill-advisedly borrowed against and spent all £69m owed to them for transfers by way of a bank advance, it means there is no money for signings until sales are made.
Or so fans have been told up to now.
Potter promised fans an “exciting and interesting” summer window as he signed off last season with a victory which was only his fifth in 19 games.
West Ham United FC v Tottenham Hotspur FC - Premier League
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The likes of Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta – if cleared of spot-fixing – Nayef Aguerd, Emerson Palmieri, Niclas Fullkrug, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Guido Rodriguez and possibly even Edson Alvarez are on the market.
There are even claims Hammers hero Tomas Soucek could be sacrificed to raise funds too.
While West Ham wait to make sales, there is the very real risk of missing out on targets and falling behind their rivals ahead of what’s expected to be one of the most fiercely competitive Premier League seasons for years.
Fans are understandably and justifiably concerned after a dismal 14th place finish last term.
Earlier this week West Ham’s owners told fans ‘not to panic’ about the transfer situation.
West Ham drop new transfer bombshell that changes everything
Now West Ham have dropped a new transfer bombshell that potentially changes the entire landscape of the window.
Journalist David Ornstein, football finance expert Kieran Maguire and The Athletic have all cast doubt on the severity of West Ham’s PSR situation.
That has led to cynicism – and some hope – among fans that the club might be taking a savvy smoke and mirrors approach to the window so as not to be held to ransom over deals.
Whether that is the case or not remains to be seen. And most Hammers fans will be highly doubtful that is the case.
But in a straight-talking message from Hammers News to the board on behalf of fans, the club appears to have altered their stance in some welcome positive news.
Aston Villa FC v West Ham United FC - Premier League
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Following up our exclusive with the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners in which they asked supporters not to panic, Hammers News put the following statement to the board: “The worry and anger from fans stems from the fact the club are saying we can’t buy until we sell.
“But is there a possibility we would be able to sign some targets on the basis we know we are going to bring in a certain amount of money through sales at some point in the window?”
In previous exchanges about this summer’s transfer situation, the owners have repeated the same line: “We can’t buy until we sell.”
However, when the rising fan anger and concern over transfers was reiterated to the board on this occasion, the response was different.
Hammers suggest signings could be made before sales
“Anything is possible,” the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News.
Cynics will understandably argue that the owners are merely trying to appease supporters with such a statement.
But this is a marked change from the previous narrative and one that at least gives some hope.
It raises the possibility that West Ham could well actually make signings before confirming sales.
Because while nothing is guaranteed in football, West Ham know they will eventually offload at least four or five players and will have a minimum figure in mind.
For example, while the Hammers want to hold out for at least £65m for Kudus, the club knows that if things get desperate they can lower that price to guarantee a sale.
Therefore there is nothing stopping West Ham going out and making signings as long as they are sure the outlay will be covered off by outgoings in this summer window.
The proof of the pudding – as always – will be in the eating.
But it is at least a more positive outlook than previously.