Fulham defender Calvin Bassey has surprised fans by posting a photo of himself wearing a West Ham United shirt on his personal Snapchat.
The controversial move has stirred some speculation among fans of Premier League rivals the Hammers and Cottagers.
But before any West Ham transfer theories spiral out of control, there’s actually an innocent explanation behind the rather unusual picture post.
Calvin Bassey was a reported target for West Ham when David Moyes was manager and the Fulham star was still at Rangers.
It was claimed Moyes wanted the versatile centre-back at the London Stadium but he went to Dutch giants Ajax instead.
The 25-year-old Nigeria international played just 25 games for the Amsterdam side, though, moving on to Fulham in an £18m deal.
Fulham fears with Hammers on hunt for new centre-back
After releasing Kurt Zouma, Angelo Ogbonna, Ben Johnson, Aaron Cresswell and Vladimir Coufal in recent seasons while also selling Craig Dawson and transfer-listing Nayef Aguerd, West Ham are very much on the hunt for a new centre-back this summer.
Cresswell, Coufal and Johnson all filled in at centre-back, especially in a three, when needed.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Now Graham Potter wants to sign a powerful and versatile centre-half – so someone like Fulham’s Bassey would certainly fit the bill.
So tongues were set well and truly wagging by Bassey’s social media activity this week.
Fulham defender Calvin Bassey poses for a selfie in a West Ham shirt on his Snapchat
Fulham defender Calvin Bassey poses for a selfie in West Ham shirt.
Because Fulham star Bassey posted a selfie in a West Ham shirt and now the player has explained the reason why.
The Hammers have been linked with a number of centre-backs this summer including Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Celta Vigo’s Oscar Mingueza.
However, Bassey has not been on West Ham’s radar since those 2022 links.
The picture, which Bassey posted on his Snapchat with the caption ‘Half Half’ – caused a bit of a backlash from some Cottagers fans, who felt it was disrespectful.
Why Fulham star Bassey posted a selfie in a West Ham shirt
In a series of follow-up posts, though, the defender has responded to the criticism while playing down any deeper meaning behind his decision to don the claret and blue of Fulham’s London rivals West Ham.
Bassey firstly re-posted a comment about him being a ‘Newham boy’ – saying ‘Woosh’ (tick) to the suggestion he is wearing the shirt of his childhood club.
Newham is West Ham heartland and Bassey grew up there having been born in Italy.
In a further response to the backlash, Bassey asked why he can’t wear the shirt of his friends Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez – who he played with at Ajax.
FBL-EUR-C1-RANGERS-AJAX
Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images
West Ham are ‘Newham boy’ Bassey’s team and he’s friends with duo
So it seems there is nothing more to it than the Hammers being Bassey’s boyhood team and the fact he remains close with Kudus and Alvarez following their time together in Holland.
Ironically it may not be the shirt of Kudus or Alvarez for much longer.
Spurs and Chelsea are battling it out to sign Kudus, who is taking matters into his own hands to force through a move.
Meanwhile West Ham are open to selling Alvarez at the right price with money needed to fund Potter’s rebuild.
Alvarez added millions to his Hammers price tag by captaining Mexico to the Gold Cup at the weekend and being named player of the tournament in the process.
West Ham paid a combined total of £72.5m to sign Kudus and Alvarez from Ajax.
It is not clear how much the Hammers would accept for Alvarez but the club is looking to make at least £60m from Kudus.
Perhaps the east Londoners should have spent £18m beating Fulham to Newham boy Bassey instead.
Goodness knows the Hammers team needs more personality and influence of those who get the club.
Potter will be looking to address that this summer – but Bassey won’t be on the list and will just have to take to wearing a West Ham shirt in his spare time.