YOU would think that West Ham United would have learned something from the seasons under Moyes and Lopetegui when the influx of older players skewed the average age of the club to the oldest in the Premier League. Spending thirty million on [James Ward-Prowse](https://www.claretandhugh.info/why-moyes-has-it-so-wrong-with-ward-prowse/) looks dreadful in hindsight – it looked pretty puzzling at the time – but with no resale value, moderate fitness and high wages, players such as ‘JWP’ represent everything that has been wrong with West Ham’s transfer policy in recent years.
Guido Rodriguez – another thirty year old – Niclas Fullkrug now 32 – both on high wages and with zero resale value. So when ‘news’ is published today stating that _West Ham were interested_ in signing thirty five year old [Jordan Henderson](https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2025/07/12/fulham-west-ham-united-pursued-jordan-henderson-before-brentford-move/) (thehardtackle.com) it suggests the Hammers have learned nothing. Their report states:
_“West Ham United also wanted to sign Jordan Henderson in the winter transfer window, but the deal failed to see the light of day. The continued interest makes sense, considering Carlos Soler has returned to Paris Saint-Germain after an underwhelming loan spell at the London Stadium in the 2024/25 season. So, the former Liverpool captain was a viable target for West Ham._
Henderson was a great player – about five years ago. No doubt on huge wages, he’d compound West Ham’s midfield mobility problem and would be another outpaced thirty-something to add to Soucek, Rodriguez and Ward- Prowse in the slowest midfield in the Premier League.
Very glad for Brentford, frankly. I’m sure he’ll add a bit of experience to their pacy midfield. Definitely a bullet dodged. Now can we please go sign somebody under 30? Preferably someone whose name is Mario Stroekyens, Lamine Camara, James McAtee or Richard Rios. Not that I’m fussy.