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appyhammer78 12:24 Mon May 23
Ex WHU Employee latest column

So we are in Europe after all. I personally cannot wait and think that it is a good thing for us for a number of reasons. Firstly European football under the lights is a great way to welcome the new stadium. Secondly, for years I have dreamt of European football to be a regular thing for us and whilst it isn’t the Champions League that we dreamt of it is a start. Thirdly, it may attract players to the club. Most players want to play in Europe even it is the Europa. Fourthly, arguably the most important reason is that we may be able to keep some of our players happy. We are lucky to have two brilliant goalkeepers; Randolph could play regularly in cup competition. Youngsters like Burke, Oxford and Cullen can get more games than they would without Europe and of course it is a chance to keep four strikers scoring. The last reason for me is that it may give some fans a chance to see the football at the Olympic stadium (Mahindra Stadium) who may not get the chance. Our season ticket sales have been phenomenal but as a consequence many have been left frustrated. This may mean some get the chance to go who would usually miss out. For me Europe is definitely a good thing.

So on to transfers and the start of what is to be a very busy window. We have had a well-publicised bid for Lacazette rejected. This bid was rejected. The bid did not break down because of payment structure, it was rejected because they wanted more money for him. The problem we have is that PSG have registered their interest and with Ibrahimovic (another one of our targets) leaving they want a top forward. The chance to raid one of their main rivals, for their best player has been appealing to them. PSG have a number of targets as well as Lacazette but Lyon know they have a man in demand and a man they can demand more for. To say the bid is “dead” is too early at this stage. It is early May so until the player joins another club, the bid cannot be said to be dead. The player has expressed his keenness to join an English club so there is a chance. Lyon have apparently named their price and we are looking to meet it again. Whether this will be enough with PSG being around I am not sure but the player is the number one target.

We have launched enquires for many players. Another “enquiry” that has got a lot of media attention is the discussion with Bournemouth for Richie and Wilson. As I said at the time we were “keen” on both players and spoke to his agent who passed on our interest to the club and leaked to the press. The discussions with the agent were not intended to become public and were not meant to come out just before Bournemouth played their last game. This was all triggered by his agent and then became a good excuse for the Bournemouth manager when they lost against Manchester United. We “enquired” as to their availability and we wouldn’t have paid anywhere near the £25m that the media reported.

As I broke in one of my previous columns we have also triggered Jamie Vardy’s £25m release clause. Whether we can persuade him to leave a spot in the Champions League with the current Champions is a different matter but we will offer a large wage to do so. We are apparently happy to double his wages and take him up to a huge basic wage.

Another player who we have launched a bid for and one I expect is the most likely to go through at this stage is Jonathan Calleri the Argentine who attracted the attention of the club whilst playing alongside Carlos Tevez at Boca Juniors. This deal will be more likely to be a loan move.

We have enquired about many forwards Batshuayi being the main one but he seems most likely to move to Spurs. There are domestic players in Benteke, the Ayew’s and Bony as well as a number of forwards who have scored in other countries such as Icardi and Embolo (someone we have monitored for a while but have doubts over). Another player who we are interested in but hasn’t been that well reported is Martin Braithwaite but again this is just an enquiry rather than him necessarily being a top target. There is some talk that Gignac, who we have been interested in before, could also be someone we move for. He is currently in Mexico and apparently not happy. No enquiry for him has been made but depending on how the other transfers go this may be revisited. Another name to watch out for that hasn’t been mentioned in any media circles is Benjamin Moukandjo, a Cameroon International striker at Lorient in France.

As far as right backs go I reported all the targets in my last column. These where Gregory van der Wiel, his PSG teammate Serge Aurier, Debuchy of Arsenal, Rafael da Silva the ex-Manchester United right back and a couple of other French right backs. Slav also has a couple from his Turkish days that he is interested in too. We have made an offer to Gregory Van Der Wiel but he has a number of offers but he is the top target there. If not the club may look at Debuchy.

Wingers are also a priority again last week’s column covered these. It has been well reported elsewhere that we would like Tore of Super Slav’s former club. Yes he is on there but meeting with Bilic in Turkey didn’t happen this week. There are many other wing targets on the list too and watch out for a former Premier League player who has had an outstanding season in France for Nice. Hatem Ben Arfa is out of contract this Summer and is a player the club would be interested in.

What we have to be assured in is that the chairman is working flat out to land the best deals for the club. We have already brought in Nordvteit who I had reported for months, so we already have one player in and we will sign another 6-8 players I think so it is early days and no need to panic.

In terms of player departures a number of clubs are lining up make an offer for Valencia. We will entertain offers for him and he is most likely to go to China who will pay large wages for him. This is also the likely destination of Alex Song too. Another player who we could let go is Obiang. I mentioned this in tweets about two weeks ago but Italian and Spanish clubs are interested in him and he has been frustrated at his lack of first team opportunities. He likes the club but is considering his options. If we land our forward targets there is a chance that Sakho will be allowed to leave. Bilic has lost some faith in him and would be prepared to let him go. Borussia Mönchengladbach has showed keen interest and there would also be domestic interest and from the French league. David Sullivan is a big fan of Sakho and has a lot of time for him so it will be interesting to see what happens with him. I think it will depend on how many forwards we land.

It is true that we are considering selling James Tomkins. Long term Bilic sees this first choice centre back partnership being Ogbonna and Reid. Both players are at an age where they can continue for a number of years now. James Collins provides excellent immediate back up and of course you have the highly talented Reece Burke and Reece Oxford providing competition too. Both these players are concerned about their first team opportunities. Burke’s contract is up next year and he is yet to sign. He is a huge West Ham fan but he has his career to think of and there is already a lot of interest in him. This week it has been well reported how Reece Oxford has rejected an initial contract. His agent has caused the club a number of issues recently but the club hope he will sign an initial £20k a week deal to keep both Manchester clubs away from him. This means that another West Ham supporter in Tomkins could be surplus to requirements. Both Crystal Palace and Sunderland, with two of his ex-managers Pardew and Allardyce, are front runners in moving for the player. We would be likely to accept a £10-£12m bid. O’Brien, Moses, Emineke and Song will all leave too and this will free up a lot of wages for players

Hammer and Pickle 12:27 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

Nice.

Glad we're balls-deep as the market for French talent.

Fresh 12:31 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

Would be a shame to let Tomkins, Obiang and Sakho leave

Gavros 12:35 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

I all the 'ITKs' I find ex to be most on the ball and not a prick.

:^) 12:36 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

"Ibrahimovic (another one of our targets) "

I guess ex employee hasn't heard that Ibrahimovic recently said he knew who he will be playing for next season.

Browno22 12:38 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

Tomkins leaving would hurt the most

Stranded 12:45 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

We're happy to double Vardy's wages?! He's supposedly on 80k a week.

Not happy about the idea of Tomkins being let go either.

Pagey 12:46 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

Decent article this and seems pretty factual.

It would be a shame to lose the likes of Tomkins, Sakho and Obiang but that is the price of success. If we're losing decent players to replace them with even better players (hopefully) then the signs are good.

The Vardy one is interesting. I don't think he'd sign for a non Champions League club but £25m for a ready made and established striker at his age is definitely a sign of intent.

Stranded 12:47 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

Or Obiang.

Vexed 12:53 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

Cheers, interesting read.

Where does this column come from?

Vexed 12:55 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

Pagey 12:46 Mon May 23

25m for a 29 year old who has one good season to his name is utter madness. I think this would be very risky and I'd prefer we didn't do this!

Gavros 12:56 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

Ex is on twitter and he has a website thewesthamway.co.uk

Jack and Dave Sullivan do pieces on there so shows that he has the ear from the people at the top

Pagey 1:01 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

Vexed, I do agree in a way but I certainly wouldn't be unhappy if we did sign him. Which we won't.

He's had a stunning season and played a huge part in Leicester winning the league. I think he's just a late bloomer with another 2/3 great seasons in him.

stepney hammer 1:02 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

Ben Arfa is an interesting one considering the season he has just had in France. On a free too.

Mart O 1:05 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

Christ, hope we're not serious about Moukandjo or Braithwaite. The former has attracted attention for scoring 13 goals this season for Lorient, but 5 of those were pens. Don't think he's ever got 10 goals in a season, not even in Ligue 2. Likewise Braithwaite, he's just not an improvement on what we've got.

Either of the PSG full backs would be great. Aurier might not be as unrealistic as it might seem, given he cunted off Lauren Blanc earlier in the season ?

Biggest area of concern for me is that I'm not convinced at all by the quality of the wide players I've seen rumoured. We need to improve on Valencia, Eminike and Moses.

Really hope we don't sell Tomkins.

Vexed 1:07 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

I dont think we'd have much chance with Ben Arfa. Everyone is looking at this geezer now.

Takashi Miike 1:09 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

im sure I read Vardy's currently on £80k a week, doubling that would be a massive outlay on top of the £25m. im presuming they'd give him a four year deal so the wages and fee take it well over £50m. I say no thanks

Mart O 1:10 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

stepney hammer 1:02 Mon May 23

No chance, I reckon. He's apparently had 18 offers and has whittled it down to 3, supposedly Barca, PSG and Lyon (where he started out).

Although he seems to have matured massively, he's been a right little cunt in his day. A huge swerve for me, no matter how good a season he's had.

Brucies_Star_Prize 1:13 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

Benjamin Moukandjo
Martin Braithewaite
Jordan Ayew
Hatem Ben Arfa

Looks like Ex has been speaking to a certain agent!

:^) 1:17 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

I really hope most of this isn't true. Some terrible targets here.

Vexed 1:25 Mon May 23
Re: Ex WHU Employee latest column

10-12m for Tomkins would be ridiculously good business. Can't see anyone paying that.

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