West Ham are furious about a revelation coming out of Premier League rivals Manchester City as the domino effect of a transfer triangle becomes clear.
Hammers News exclusive
Another summer transfer window is almost upon us and West Ham are yet again on the hunt for a new striker.
Graham Potter has an extensive list of forward targets for the Hammers.
But West Ham do not have the luxury of the likes of Manchester City in having their pick of players and the ability to get deals done swiftly and early in the window.
With Danny Ings and Evan Ferguson leaving – and possibly both Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug all departing West Ham this summer, two new strikers are needed at the London Stadium.
Midfield is another top priority in east London.
West Ham’s £10m Man City fury after shock twist
But that’s also the case for Pep Guardiola and Man City have already dealt the Hammers a huge blow as they look on course to land the ‘Swiss Casemiro’.
Now the Etihad side are rubbing salt in Hammers wounds.
West Ham are furious over a £10m Man City revelation after a shock Liam Delap and Jonathan David domino effect becomes clear.
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Delap and David were among the two most affordable – albeit highly ambitious – striker targets on Potter’s list.
West Ham’s interest in former Man City ace Delap and soon-to-be free agent David has ended in predictable fashion.
Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
Delap is now set to join West Ham’s London rivals Chelsea imminently.
And David looks almost certain to sign for Italian champions Napoli.
It is how Man City intend to take advantage of that situation which has infuriated Hammers chiefs, though.
A number of top emerging West Ham talents have been leaving the club in recent years.
Many of them – including the likes of Divine Mukasa and Divin Mubama – have joined Manchester City.
Despite having plenty of money to essentially sign any player they desire, Man City have been hoovering up top starlets for next to nothing.
Training fee compensation set by tribunals is always minimal if anything at all.
Delap and David domino effect burns Hammers
Ironically the Hammers now have a manager in place in Potter who is not afraid to turn to the Academy stars.
Perhaps if the likes of Mukasa and Mubama knew that Potter would end up in east London, they would have thought differently about joining Man City.
There was particular disbelief at West Ham when Mubama suddenly rocked up as a Man City signing last August.
After snubbing a new contract at the club he had been with from the age of six, Mubama’s decision raised eyebrows.
After all, if he had struggled to get in West Ham’s team what hope did Mubama have of game time at Man City.
And so it has proved.
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Earlier this month, it was revealed that after all that Mubama is going to be let go by Man City this summer.
There is no lack of irony given Potter is currently on the hunt for a new young striker or two.
But the Hammers board are not happy one bit as what Man City are now planning to do in light of the Delap and David moves.
While Man City are already looking to splash the cash on a number of signings, West Ham are at their limit in terms of PSR.
How the Hammers could have done with tying players like Mubama and Mukasa down so they could at least make 100 per cent profit if and when they did depart should things not have worked out long term.
Instead mega rich Man City are planning to do exactly that.
In a quite unbelievable twist, Fabrizio Romano has revealed Man City are planning to turn an instant and pure £10m profit on Mubama by selling him to Ipswich or Lille.
PSR-hit West Ham can only watch as Man City turn Mubama profit
Romano says Mubama is wanted by both clubs as their respective replacement for Delap and David.
The transfer reporter says initial talks have been held with Man City and a £10m fee has been discussed.
A top spokesman for West Ham’s board says it sums up just how difficult it is for clubs to compete with the likes of Man City nowadays.
“We liked Divin a lot and wanted him to stay but he and his representatives had other ideas,” the spokesman exclusively told Hammers News.
“I think most of us were shocked when he turned up at Manchester City.
“We put years into developing these young players only for the top clubs to cherry pick the ones they want.
“Worse still he’s barely played and having paid next to nothing for a player on our books since he was a child, there’s a chance they could turn a serious profit while we’re wrestling with PSR.”
After making 18 senior appearances for the Hammers, Mubama’s move to Man City resulted in just two for Guardiola’s side.
Man City’s Elite Development Squad head coach Ben Wilkinson confirmed Mubama will not be around next term in an update earlier this month.
But nobody at West Ham expected the possibility Man City could turn such a big profit offloading him.
The fact it could be a direct result of the transfers involving two Potter targets only makes the situation even more unpalatable for West Ham.