West Ham’s transfer plans have taken a serious hit as Brighton waste no time using the Joao Pedro money to bid for Graham Potter’s number one target.
West Ham have been waiting on transfer funds in order to start making signings, but now face being completely gazumped by Premier League rivals Brighton.
The Hammers’ hierarchy told fans not to panic about the club’s transfer inactivity a couple of weeks ago.
But other clubs are starting to make serious moves in the summer transfer window, threatening to leave West Ham behind.
Graham Potter promised an ‘exciting and interesting window for West Ham.
But it is his old club Brighton among those stealing the headlines so far.
The Seagulls have already made five impressive signings.
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West Ham head coach Graham Potter greets Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler at the Amex
Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images
Meanwhile, West Ham are stuck in the transfer mud while they wait to offload players such as Mohammed Kudus.
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Potter wants a leaner, younger and more dynamic West Ham team.
And he has gone on record as saying he wants the Hammers to operate more like former side Brighton when it comes to recruitment and sales, chiefly by signing promising talent with future resale value and developing them.
Signing a new striker is a top priority for West Ham.
Especially after Evan Ferguson was sent back to the Amex following his loan flop in east London.
Disaster for West Ham as Brighton bid for Potter’s prime target
Ferguson is Potter’s only West Ham signing so far but the move was a failure with Ferguson barely featuring and failing to register a single shot on target let alone score.
The Irishman has joined Danny Ings out of the West Ham exit and – for now at least – Michail Antonio too.
Meanwhile Niclas Fullkrug is up for sale with Potter publicly stating he only sees the German as a back-up striker.
Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay, who worked together at Brighton too, have a host of striker targets on their list.
But they’ve just suffered a major blow in their hopes of landing the man at the very top of it.
Nice's Ivorian forward Evann Guessand in action
Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images
Nice striker Guessand tops Potter and Macaulay list
It’s a disaster for West Ham as Brighton use their Joao Pedro cash to instantly bid for Potter’s prime target – Evann Guessand.
Macaulay identified Guessand as a top West Ham target the moment he arrived from Chelsea in January.
Potter and Macaulay have been monitoring Guessand ever since.
In fact they have been so impressed with the Nice striker that the Hammers held early talks about terms for signing the 23-year-old Ivory Coast star.
Nice boss Franck Haise even admitted Guessand will be sold amid links to West Ham.
It has been claimed West Ham believe 6ft 2in rangy star Guessand has the technical and physical qualities to adapt to the Premier League.
There was a further boost when Guessand turned down Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce because he only wants a Premier League move.
Seagulls use Pedro cash to leapfrog Hammers for Guessand
Back in May Hammers News warned that Brighton were interested in Guessand as a potential replacement for Pedro if he joined Chelsea or Newcastle.
The Brazilian forward’s move to Chelsea was confirmed on Wednesday and the repercussions look like they are going to be swift and brutal for the Irons.
Because Brighton have made good on their interest in Guessand immediately after offloading Pedro.
According to L’Equipe, Guessand has once again rebuffed Fenerbahce – because Brighton have made an official move to start the ball rolling on bringing him to England.
Potter is paying a heavy price for West Ham’s financial situation.
Hammers fans are already angry the club finds itself in this position.
And if the Seagulls beat them to Guessand having already signed five top young stars, the club’s owners will undoubtedly start to feel the wrath of the supporters.