Whether it be a case of calling Southampton’s bluff or simply exasperation at the intransigent attitude of the Saints who are not remotely interested in negotiating for the sale of their player Mateus Fernandes, West Ham have moved onto other, much needed midfield targets (as Graham Potter confirmed earlier) knowing that the club desperately need reinforcements in the midfield to compete in the Premier League season which kicks off tonight.
Claret and Hugh’s high ranking source within West Ham United confirmed – without giving away too much at this stage, that the Irons were not playing Southampton’s high-stakes high-priced transfer game and have moved on.
“We have bids in, but no progress. Not easy to find better players than we have”..
Most Read on West Ham News
Is the official line from within the club. There are still two weeks of the window so it may not happen overnight -but players are being pursued.
However, doing the detective work, ‘speculation’ (only from me) suggests news that ‘bids are in’ may well correspond to news from Talk Sport this afternoon confirming Chelsea have turned down a loan with option to buy – from a so far unnamed club – for their talented midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka who cannot get into the Chelsea line up and must be desperately frustrated that his career is stalled.
Talk Sport’s Alex Crook reported :
“Understand#CFC have rejected a loan offer with an obligation worth north of £15m for Carney Chukwuemeka. Player will be frustrated having found game-time limited at Stamford Bridge and knowing he is not in Enzo Maresca’s plans.”
The Irons have long been admirers of the talented 21 year old, internet sources suggested yesterday that West Ham were interested in bidding. Most definitely of the ‘Potter and Macaulay’ profile, the problem in the past had been not so much CC’s wages (£40k a week apparently) but Chelsea’s €40 million price tag: Perhaps there is a greater desire to see Chukwuemeka on his way this summer. Certainly one to watch as the talent pool shrinks.