West Ham fans have quite literally heard it all now after a jaw-dropping £90m transfer twist emerged in the middle of a confusing summer window.
The Hammers were handed the perfect opportunity this summer when FIFA extended the transfer window to almost three months.
With so much work to do for Graham Potter and Kyle Macaulay in rebuilding the team, it gave West Ham breathing space and plenty of time to do deals.
Potter promised West Ham fans an “exciting and interesting” summer window.
The 50-year-old also made it clear he would “ideally” like new arrivals in as early as possible to work with them in pre-season.
Hammers supporters will not want to hear excuses that Potter has not had time to get his new-look team to gel when next season rolls around.
After just 15 wins in their last 57 Premier League games since January 2024, patience has already worn dangerously thin in east London.
Astonishing new £90m West Ham transfer twist emerges
The reality is that West Ham have completely failed to take advantage of the extended window.
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Nothing has been accomplished in the first month, in or out, and players start returning for pre-season training next week.
West Ham now have just 51 days to make sales and signings until the new Premier League season begins.
There are just 67 days until the most important window in West Ham’s recent history slams shut.
West Ham United’s board have been insisting the money well has run dry since before the January window.
First fans were told repeatedly that the club must ‘sell to buy’ this summer.
West Ham’s board told fans ‘not to panic’ over transfer inactivity.
West Ham softened their stance somewhat last week.
West Ham majority owner David Sullivan spotted watching the women's team in the FA Cup semi-final in 2019.
Photo by James Chance/Getty Images
The Hammers’ hierarchy stated ‘anything is possible’ when asked whether West Ham might be able to make some signings before sales – in the knowledge players will definitely be offloaded for a certain amount.
A new explanation for the slow start to the window was then put out to the fans.
West Ham claimed many of their top targets have been participating at the Under 21 Euros.
Now West Ham fans have heard it all as an astonishing £90m transfer twist emerges.
With the figure raising eyebrows across the fanbase, the latest development will leave supporters stunned, hopeful, furious and sceptical.
Hammers vice-chair Karren Brady sparked anger when discussing transfers this week.
Brady responded to West Ham fans over the club’s transfer plans – stating it would not be ‘beneficial or appropriate’ to discuss them.
Fans have heard it all after Sullivan confidant’s stunning claim
But Brady stopped short of telling supporters where the club stands financially and whether Potter – the man she pushed to appoint – will be backed to reshape the squad.
West Ham have already missed out on a number of players who were allegedly in their sights.
Many rivals are making hay while the sun shines ahead of what is expected to be the most competitive Premier League season for years.
Now news has emerged from the corridors of power that West Ham do have money to spend – and plenty of it.
If they want and need to.
Top Hammers insider Sean Whetstone counts majority owner David Sullivan and Brady among his close contacts.
Whetstone has made a simply stunning revelation that Sullivan, Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky and the club’s other owners are permitted – and potentially willing – to inject £90m into the club for transfers.
Billionaire West Ham co-owner Daniel Kretinsky poses during a photo shoot in Paris.
Photo by JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty Images
West Ham’s owners can invest if they really want to
Prior to Whetstone’s claim, it had emerged on longstanding Hammers fan site KUMB that Sullivan and Kretinsky were waiting until a certain “sell by date” to offload Mohammed Kudus, Nayef Aguerd and others.
It was stated that if adequate funds had not been brought in by a certain point of the window, Sullivan and Kretinsky would inject cash to get deals done.
That was met with scepticism among some Hammers fans, who have been calling on the owners to show more ambition.
West Ham officially have the third richest ownerships in the Premier League.
Now Whetstone has confirmed Sullivan and Kretinsky are permitted to inject £90m into the club to count towards PSR.
It is achieved by a rights issue and selling additional to existing shareholders. It has been commonplace at other clubs to get around PSR restrictions.
Claret and Hugh’s Whetstone, who counts Sullivan as his key source, says his top contact at the club revealed: “We’ll inject funds if needed/allowed and it solves a problem.”
Why has it taken so long to hear about £90m loophole?
So why are we only hearing this now?
And why are West Ham not implementing this as soon as possible to give the new manager every chance of getting his top targets and turning the ship around for next season?
The biggest question of all, though, is whether the owners will do that at all.
When reaching out to the owners for an update on transfers last night, Hammers News asked whether any deals were close – either in or out.
The one-word response being a simple ‘No’.
Sullivan is worth over £1bn and Kretinsky is now said to be worth in excess of £13bn.
And Whetstone says there are ‘multiple scenarios’ in which the shareholding can be adjusted in order for the owners to invest the £90m.
If West Ham’s owners have a way to inject that kind of money into the club – it needs to happen sooner rather than later.
Or, as many are predicting, the Hammers could find themselves in serious trouble next season.
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