Ahead of the starting gun heralding the opening of next week’s June 1st Transfer window, [West Ham](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-hams-academy-talent-with-a-5m-price-tag/) are linked daily with host of targets: The list grows and last summer hit over two hundred names in a dizzying mix of reality, possibility, overspill of agent hype and wishful thinking.
This season the consensus is that the Hammers don’t have 2024’s budget and therefore have more planning and careful acquisition instead of the ‘multi-million splurges’ which accounted for, among get other things, £25 million being spent on the talented but unpolished Guilherme – merely on a hunch.
Well-known West Ham journalist Roshane Thomas’ optimistically titled article: ‘_**How to Fix West Ham**‘_ in todays [NYTimes](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6369519/2025/05/26/west-ham-potter-transfers-overhaul-recruitment/) details _‘one of their top transfer targets’ as Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge… West Ham are one of many Premier League teams that want to sign the 24-year-old defensive midfielder this summer.”
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Certainly seen as an Edson Alvarez upgrade, the Nigerian DM has been performing well in this seasons’ Champions League and receiving high praise. Reported back in May as being a Hammers’ target, if Potter and Co can bring him to the club it will signal the end for Mexican Alvarez who won’t want to be sitting on the bench and will more than likely fund West Ham’s rebuild.
As Thomas states:
_“Onyedika’s deal expires in the summer of 2027, and this contract does not feature an option to extend. The Nigeria international has been a key player for the Belgian side this season, registering two goals and two assists across 51 appearances.”_
One of a host of Europe – based midfielders, most definitely worth keeping an eye on once the window gets going if the Hammers can overcome the usual objection of missing European football.
Would that the rest of Roshane Thomas’ article about _fixing the club_ was that straightforward. Might just take a whole thesis to sort that mess out.