A journalist has publicly turned on West Ham chief David Sullivan after a grim new transfer leak emerged, leaving fans furious over the handling of the summer window.
West Ham United find themselves standing at a crossroads and the next two weeks could very much make or break their season.
The summer transfer window slams shut on Monday September 1st and the Hammers are struggling to afford or attract signings.
West Ham have had three long months to plan and execute Graham Potter and Kyle Macaulay’s transfer strategy.
Yet the single most important part of the club’s summer rebuild – the midfield – has inexplicably been left until last.
It is also not lost on fans that a new centre-back and pacy, powerful, young new striker was needed as a priority this summer.
Clock ticking on West Ham’s underwhelming transfer window
Yet only ageing, injury-prone free agent forward Callum Wilson has strengthened either of those positions.
The Hammers have also sold their most powerful, pacy and explosive player in Mohammed Kudus with no replacement brought in.
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A plethora of reported West Ham targets have moved elsewhere this week with Jacob Ramsey choosing Newcastle over the Hammers in a £43m move.
Southampton have rejected West Ham’s £30m bid for Mateus Fernandes and want another £20m on top.
West Ham simply don’t have that kind of money.
Mateus Fernandes celebrates during Northampton Town v Southampton - Carabao Cup
Photo by Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images
There has been talk that Andy Irving, Edson Alvarez, Guido Rodriguez, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Emerson Palmieri could leave soon to raise much-needed funds.
Lille’s impressive midfielder Ngal’ayel Mukau is also a reported target.
Rumours of interest in Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika and Genoa’s Morten Frendup have died a death over the last month.
West Ham issued a brutally honest transfer update heading into the first game of the new Premier League campaign.
The crux of that update being that the club are nowhere near making any further additions to add to Mads Hermansen, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Kyle Walker-Peters and Wilson, or any sales to boost Potter’s transfer kitty.
Journalist turns on West Ham chief Sullivan over transfer leak
Majority owner David Sullivan has been feeling the wrath of angry Hammers fans over the club’s lack of ambition and financial situation.
Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky’s net worth is 10 times that of Sullivan. But his lack of interaction since becoming West Ham’s second biggest stakeholder has shielded him from criticism.
There are also concerns over who is picking players with many supporters convinced Walker-Peters and Wilson were not Potter signings.
Now a top journalist has turned on West Ham chief Sullivan over a grim new transfer leak.
Hammers insider Sean Whetstone counts Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady as close contacts.
West Ham majority owner David Sullivan deep in thought.
Credit: Getty Images/Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images.
Whetstone has delivered an update from his inside source, believed to be Sullivan, which has not gone down well with supporters.
The source believed to be Sullivan says West Ham have multiple bids in for players but have made no progress in filling midfield roles this week.
The statement that sparked the most anger from fans, though, was Sullivan claiming it is ‘not easy to find players better than we already have and who are within our means’.
That was like a red rag to a bull for Hammers supporters.
And one in particular who happens to be a top journalist – who is known to also glean club information from Sullivan.
The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg responded to Whetstone’s post passing on the transfer update from Sullivan with an acerbic takedown of West Ham’s transfer dealings.
Steinberg slammed the leak and is not buying the excuses, suggesting West Ham are looking at the wrong players.
Steinberg slams West Ham’s transfer excuses
And he highlighted that Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, who is being linked with a £120m move to Man United, was signed for just £26m, proving there are budget-friendly captures out there with the right scouting.
“Not easy?” an incredulous Steinberg responded to the Sullivan leak on X.
“Brighton bought Baleba for £26m.
“Not easy does also depend on what market you’re willing to shop in and if you’re setting your targets at realistic levels.”
Steinberg’s comments will strike a chord with his fellow Hammers fans.
The signing of Diouf alone this summer has already proved there are some top young talents available who West Ham can attract for reasonable prices with the right scouting and transfer policy.
Given he has had seven months to build up to this summer, Macaulay’s impact has been very minimal thus far.
Whether that is because the talent spotter’s recommendations aren’t being pursued or they are unrealistic remains to be seen.
It is quite simply a huge two weeks for the Hammers in the window because the squad is nowhere near good enough to push for anything significant as things stand.