Jack Grealish has wasted no time leaving West Ham’s owners red-faced after their brutal comments ahead of his move to Everton.
As far as summer transfer windows go, West Ham and Everton are right at opposite ends of the spectrum.
David Moyes has been backed to the hilt with the Toffees doing some outstanding business and signing several Hammers targets along the way.
Thierno Barry, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Tyler Dibling and Jack Grealish had all been heavily linked with West Ham this summer.
But every single one of them has ended up with Moyes at Everton.
West Ham meanwhile have only paid for two players, El Hadji Malick Diouf and Mads Hermansen.
There is also doubt over whether Graham Potter had anything to do with, or particularly wanted ageing free agents Kyle Walker-Peters and Callum Wilson.
Everton have been so ambitious in the transfer market they’ve even made a move to reunite Tomas Soucek with Moyes.
Former West Ham boss David Moyes shakes hands with majority owner David Sullivan after winning the Europa Conference League
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
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That opening offer has reportedly been rejected.
But with West Ham pleading poverty and growing increasingly desperate to make signings, Everton may yet return with another offer.
Particularly as Soucek has found himself out of the team on a regular basis for the first time in his five years as a Hammer.
West Ham have been turned down by – and have turned down – several targets so far this summer.
Potter’s squad is so weak and lacking in quality, many feel the Hammers are going to suffer a fate that has never befallen Everton – relegation.
Grealish leaves West Ham owners red-faced already at Everton
It has been a hugely underwhelming window for West Ham, who required a complete overhaul but have barely scratched the surface.
Nine players have departed with two more set to follow this week according to reports.
If West Ham don’t get some quality players in the door the consequences will be grave.
And some of their decision-making this summer will come increasingly into the spotlight.
None more so than the club’s call on one of Everton’s new heroes.
Grealish has left West Ham’s owners red-faced already at Everton after some brutal comments.
Jack Grealish delights on his debut for Everton with two assists
Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images
It was reported that it was a two-horse race between the Hammers and Everton to sign Grealish from Manchester City on loan this summer.
The signs looked good for the Irons when it was reported that Potter was a big fan of Grealish and that the player was open to a move to the London Stadium.
Popular with England fans and a superb talent when at his best, Grealish looked an exciting capture for Moyes and the Toffees on paper.
When it was put to West Ham’s board whether the club were ever seriously in for Grealish, their response was brutally honest.
West Ham’s owners confirmed they did have some interest and considered rivalling Everton for the potential signing.
But the Hammers admitted they had serious reservations about the 29-year-old playmaker.
“We see Grealish as an individual who has had his troubles and doesn’t track back enough for our system and the way the manager wants to play,” the top spokesman for West Ham’s board exclusively told Hammers News earlier this month.
“But if David Moyes can get him back to what he once was then it is a great signing for Everton.”
Well Grealish has wasted little time in leaving West Ham’s board with egg on their faces.
The enigmatic dribbler got two assists on his full Toffees debut in a 2-0 win over Brighton.
Fans lapped up his performance and Grealish said he has fallen back in love with football again being a main player in the team.
It was the kind of guile West Ham are desperately missing.
And another tale of transfer woe for the Hammers in a summer full of them as Everton look forward to a season of excitement while doom and gloom envelops east London.