Graham Potter’s transfer plans may have taken a major hit after a top target who Inter Milan told West Ham they could sign after the Champions League final, suffered a devastating injury playing in it.
Many Hammers fans are convinced the club is jinxed by a curse.
The West Ham curse – usually reserved for strikers – has plenty of evidence to support its legitimacy down the years.
Niclas Fullkrug is exhibit A this season, spending two thirds of his debut campaign out injured after a £26m move.
New defender wanted in West Ham rebuild
Well now it seems that West Ham curse is extending to transfer targets too.
According to Graham Potter himself, he and head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay are ‘very busy’ working on signings.
The Hammers are planning to rebuild the squad around younger, more dynamic and athletic stars.
Strikers and overhauling the midfield are top priorities.
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But there will also be movement in the West Ham backline too.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
The Hammers will listen to offers for error-prone Konstantinos Mavropanos.
There is also speculation that Jean-Clair Todibo – about whom there are questions marks over attitude, application and fitness – could be sold as soon as his £32m move from Nice is made permanent.
West Ham have been linked with the likes of Taylor Harwood-Bellis of Southampton and Brighton’s Adam Webster for the third centre-back role.
A ball-playing centre-back is a top priority for Potter according to Mail Sport’s latest transfer update from the London Stadium.
Target Inter Milan told West Ham they can sign suffers injury
Just 10 days ago, the Hammers were given huge encouragement on that front.
West Ham got the green light to sign a top defender wanted by the manager and Macaulay once he had got the biggest game of his life out of the way.
But the target Inter Milan told West Ham they can sign after the Champions League final has suffered a devastating injury in that very game.
The summer transfer window is opening just hours after the final of Europe’s top competition.
Photo by Mattia Pistoia - Inter/Inter via Getty Images
Photo by Mattia Pistoia – Inter/Inter via Getty Images
It was claimed Inter Milan have agreed to sell Yann Bisseck to the Hammers after UEFA’s showpiece final on May 31st.
And impressive 24-year-old German international Bisseck was reportedly a contender to be among West Ham’s first summer signings of the Potter overhaul.
It was reported the Italians have agreed a deal with Chelsea to sign Benoit Badiashile and that Inter were happy to let Bisseck join West Ham as a result.
Bisseck has been a key player for Inter Milan all season.
It has been claimed West Ham are back in for Bisseck after making a bid last year with Potter and Macaulay agreeing he would dramatically improve the Hammers.
Move for Bisseck now in doubt after Champions League final injury
Bisseck has been a regular for Inter all season. But he was actually left on the bench for their Champions League final against PSG – perhaps with one eye on the fact he could be sold imminently.
The German international came on as a second half substitute.
But Bisseck lasted less than 10 minutes, suffering a serious looking injury and leaving the pitch in tears as Inter were smashed 5-0.
It comes days after Inter lost out on the Serie A title to Napoli.
Now West Ham may be forced to look elsewhere depending on the severity of Bisseck’s injury.
The one positive for the Hammers was that Bisseck walked up to collect his loser’s medal without the assistance he needed when being subbed off.
All eyes will be on the results of inevitable scans Bisseck will now have in the coming days.