West Ham have outlined their stance on making Igor Julio’s move from Brighton permanent after his deadline day arrival on a straight loan deal.
Brazilian defender Igor Julio has only just arrived, but many Hammers fans were disappointed at the short-sightedness of a loan with no option or obligation to buy.
West Ham fans were hoping for multiple signings on deadline day last week.
The Hammers were being linked with several centre-backs including Charlie Cresswell and Taylor Harwood-Bellis as well as Dutch midfielder Quinten Timber and a forward.
In the end, though, only Igor arrived on loan from Brighton after a stunning late twist saw the 27-year-old snub Crystal Palace to move to east London instead.
Igor straight loan made for disappointing West Ham deadline day
West Ham fans have great memories of muscle-bound Igor.
But not necessarily for the right reasons when it comes to wanting him on their side.
The powerful defender was the man who was left for dead by Jarrod Bowen in the last minute of the Europa Conference League final as West Ham beat Fiorentina to win their only major trophy of the last 45 years.
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Igor was lambasted by manager Vincenzo Italiano for trying to play Bowen offside in that key moment and was then bombed out to Brighton.
Jarrod Bowen leaves Igor Julio for dead to score the winning goal as West Ham beat Fiorentina 2-1 in the 2023 Europa Conference League final
Photo by JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images
It would be foolish to form an opinion on Igor based on that one moment.
Especially as brilliant Hammers skipper Bowen has made defenders with far greater reputations look silly with his talent.
Igor’s arrival did leave many supporters disappointed, though.
Fans wanted to see a young defender like Cresswell signed as part of a coherent long-term plan to back Graham Potter’s vision.
The real reason West Ham signed Igor on deadline day instead has now been revealed.
To make matters worse, the move has been reported to be a straight loan with no option or obligation to buy, similar to the deal West Ham did with Brighton and Hove Albion for Evan Ferguson.
Loan signings with no end goal irritate football fans who feel they lack incentive for the player to do well.
There is also the potential issue that Igor does well and West Ham have no option to keep him.
West Ham lift lid on Igor permanent move stance
Now West Ham have lifted the lid on their Igor permanent move stance if the Brighton loanee is a hit.
The fact Igor’s move is only a loan is made worse in the eyes of fans after the man he replaces, Nayef Aguerd, was sold for around £19m all told.
Wantaway Aguerd was a disastrous signing for West Ham at £30m from Rennes.
Weak, slow and whiny, Aguerd was shipped out on loan last season after playing his part in the worst West Ham defence in Premier League history, shipping 74 goals in David Moyes’ final season.
Igor has immediately set his stall out by saying how excited he is to join the Hammers after he left a medical at Palace to do just that, collapsing Marc Guehi’s move to Liverpool in the process.
Igor is an instant improvement on Aguerd regardless of what happens because he a) wants to be at West Ham and b) won’t be found wanting in terms of strength and pace.
Igor Julio during Brighton vs Manchester City in the Premier League
Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images
Hammers on whether they can buy Igor from Brighton if he’s a hit
The Brazilian defender has also made a statement by instantly taking Aguerd’s number five shirt.
It won’t be difficult to fill.
But if he does well, what are the chances of the Hammers keeping the man who says he would be a boxer if he wasn’t a professional footballer?
While there is no set plan or trigger in place based around appearances for Igor to sign permanently.
West Ham have confirmed they will be able to sign Igor if he does well, though, on one condition.
Hammers News asked whether the Igor move could be made permanent if he does well and the right price can be agreed with Brighton.
“If we paid enough I’m sure!” the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners told Hammers News.
The loanee, who can also fill in at left-back, now has the chance to make himself an instant hero in claret and blue.
West Ham welcome bitter rivals Spurs to the London Stadium on Saturday.
Max Kilman looks set to start ahead of Igor if Potter sticks with the back four which performed so well in the 3-0 win at Forest last time out.
If the head coach switches to a back five, though, then Igor could come into the team.
Whether he starts or comes on as a sub, Igor will be playing on the same side of the pitch as a certain Mohammed Kudus.
That will give him the chance to put in a few challenges which make him a hero from the get-go in east London.