In a revelation reminiscent of ’80’s quiz show “_here’s what you could have won”_ Bullseye – when losing contestants were made painfully aware of what they’d just lost -the transfer targets [West Ham](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-hams-aguerd-upgrade-could-be-deadline-day-steal/) _could_ have brought to London stadium on deadline day almost beggar belief.
Remember, the club were required to ‘sell before buying’ – _but even with defender Nayef Aguerd_ **_sold for €21 million_** – about £17 million – it has now transpired that David Sullivan ducked and dived his way to **_NOT_** signing either of the club’s top centre back options on 1st September.
How the club may come to rue this decision in the future, if the journalist in question has his facts right.
Centre backs **Charlie Cresswell** and Southampton’s **Taylor Harwood-Bellis** were both available to buy on deadline day but Sullivan lowballed with loan-to-buy options, despite having the Aguerd cash ready to go. Alan Nixon revealed in his article “[West Ham missed out on two centre halves”](https://www.patreon.com/posts/west-ham-missed-138286991) that either could have been bought outright for the same amount as the banked Aguerd cash – or less in Cresswell’s case.
It transpires that both Toulouse and Southampton had rejected ‘loan with options’ offers but both players were available for sale.
Either an England u21 European Championship winning defender or, in Harwood-Bellis’ case, a full England international, was within touching distance.
But, according to Nixon, Sullivan opted to save the transfer fee and instead secure the services of unwanted Brighton centre back **Igor Julio** on a ‘dry’ loan with no option, instead of shelling out the less-than £20 mill required to do the deal.
Short term-ism its worst. Cresswell in particular has a bright future and would have been an appreciating asset for the club, probably selling-on for double in three years.
Should anybody still be in any doubt as to why so many West Ham fans are behind the petition to get the Chairman to step away from the de facto Director of Football role he’s reprised this summer- and appoint proper professionals to run the club – this is the perfect example. Leave the club short, ignore the appreciating assets available but stick a loanee- a short term ‘sticking plaster’ fix in place to keep the cash in the bank. Very West Ham.