West Ham head coach Graham Potter and Man United boss Ruben Amorim. Inset, Man United and West Ham crests
West Ham head coach Graham Potter and Man United boss Ruben Amorim. Inset, Man United and West Ham crests
A top striker has displayed refreshing honesty with his reason for snubbing a move to Manchester United and it is a major boost for fellow suitors West Ham.
West Ham and Manchester United are both looking to rebuild after woeful campaigns.
The Hammers actually managed to finish above the Red Devils in the end, but that was no great achievement.
Ruben Amorim, who held talks to succeed David Moyes at West Ham just over a year ago, is facing big pressure to turn Man United around.
Graham Potter finds himself under intense pressure in east London too.
The Englishman needs to perform a Hammers overhaul.
Potter and Amorim plot West Ham and Man United rebuilds
Both West Ham and Man United are on the hunt for a new forward as part of those revamps.
Amorim has made a fast start to the summer transfer window by signing Matheus Cunha and lodging a bid for Bryan Mbeumo too.
The Hammers can’t compete on that level with Manchester United in the transfer market.
Especially with PSR restricting what Potter can spend.
West Ham need to sell before they can buy this summer.
To that end talks were actually held with Man United about a potential deal for Mohammed Kudus – who will be West Ham’s main sacrificial lamb to raise transfer funds.
Photo by Zohaib Alam - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Zohaib Alam – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
Nothing came of those initial talks, chiefly because the Hammers snubbed taking Jadon Sancho as part of the deal.
West Ham have now explained why they turned down Sancho in a brutally honest admission.
The bid to sign a new striker has set West Ham and Man United on a collision course again – if recent speculation is to be believed.
But it seems honesty is the order of the day – and could work to West Ham’s advantage.
Potter’s big focus this summer – by his own admission – is to drastically lower the age of what was officially the Premier League’s oldest squad last season.
The Hammers boss wants younger, more dynamic players with midfield and up front the priorities.
West Ham boost as striker target snubs Man United move
It has been widely reported since Potter’s arrival that he and Amorim share a mutual interest in Italian forward Moise Kean.
West Ham have been linked with a move to sign Kean from Fiorentina.
The former Everton striker, 25, has been brilliant for the team the Hammers vanquished in the Conference League final just over two years ago.
Kean hit 25 goals and laid on three assists for La Viola.
There is an argument that Kean would perfectly suit both Amorim and Potter’s systems with his strength, pace and finishing ability.
The ex Toffees misfit has really matured as a player in recent seasons.
And that is evident in his outlook on his future.
Photo by Paolo Giuliani/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Paolo Giuliani/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Kean’s honest reason for Man United snub is great for West Ham
Because West Ham have been handed a boost as the striker target snubs a move to Man United for a refreshingly honest reason.
While Potter is said to be an admirer, according to Football Italia and Tuttomercatoweb it is Manchester United who have most consistently shown interest in Kean.
The good news for both clubs is that Kean is looking increasingly likely to leave. Not only that, he is not basing his decision on whether a club has European football to offer.
However, West Ham will be delighted to hear Kean is ‘not too sure Man United would be the best step’.
Because Amorim’s side would not guarantee him regular playing time in the starting XI, which is his number one priority ‘above all else’.
At West Ham, however, Kean would indisputably be the main starting striker.
The ex Juventus star walks into the Hammers team.
But while that Kean news will be welcomed at the London Stadium, West Ham still need to raise the money to pay for the striker.
Kean has a release clause of around £41m.
But it was put in at the player’s request should he wish to move on.
That means Fiorentina – much like West Ham with Kudus – can sell the star for whatever fee they wish.
West Ham know they will have to pay decent money to get at least one top forward this summer.
Young Celtic striker Daniel Cummings is joining the Hammers on a free transfer on July 1 to be a back-up forward.
The path now seems clear for Kean but the Hammers have to hope they can push through some sales to keep any hopes alive of bringing him back to the Premier League.