Well known for ‘trying and failing’ to buy top-level players, [West Ham](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-transfers-hammers-target-complete-midfielder-in-serie-a-raid/) have ‘form’ going back years when it comes to trying to placate the fan-base with platitudes at the end of a failed transfer window, _merely stating ‘we tried’ to bring in top players_ but inevitably having zero to show at the end of a window full of hype.
Fans on the Claret and Hugh forum complain endlessly about the club making offers for players that were never, ever going to be accepted, just as ‘window dressing’ for appearances’ sake.
Most recently the winter Jhon Duran dèbacle – where the Hammers lodged a £57 million offer knowing full well that Aston Villa wanted £70 million and that their offer would be refused – left fans feeling that the West Ham were at it again.
Without wishing to tempt fate, it seems as if there is something different happening this May. Bear with me. With June just over the horizon, all of the reports (except perhaps the Jack Grealish fantasy) are of the Hammers being linked with young players, nineteen, twenty, twenty one , players on their way up rather than ‘unattainables’ at the top of their game and therefore out of the Hammers’ price bracket.
Take a look around the reports , all of the players are up-and- coming talents, nearly all are under £25m and many are £15-20 million.
The pacy midfield, for example, that would transpire if West Ham signed just two from: **Richard Rios, Raphael Onyedika, Mario Stroekyens, Josh Brownhill, Carney Chukwuemeka, James McAtee, Shea Charles and Morten Frendrup,** all of whom were linked with the Irons in reports just _today._
All share youth, pace, affordability and – dare I say it – West Ham – level ambition. The picture is the same in the ‘striker’ department: all are young and inexpensive which to me shouts of ‘possible’ deals. Not ‘improbable’.
No more Hammers ’tilting at windmills’? We’ll find out in the coming three months but the early signs suggest the Hammers are indeed getting real and planning to pursue players they can both afford and realistically hope to bring to London Stadium.
You can shoot me down in September if I’m wrong and West Ham have just a couple of thirty-six year old donkey midfielders obtained on free ‘Bosman’ transfers and a litany of ‘we tried and failed’ transfer targets.