Bilic rules out further major activity
Our Croatian manager Slaven Bilic has all but ruled out any further huge deals in this Transfer Window. We have already tied down the likes of Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez for £24 million and £16 million respectively, as well as capturing the Manchester City duo of England No1 Joe Hart and right-back Pablo Zabaleta. Havard Nordtveit, Enner Valencia Ashley Fletcher and Darren Randolph have all gone in the other direction for fees under £10 million in the last couple of months, with Robert Snodgrass and Sofiane Feghouli set to follow.
Bilic has been speaking about the window so far in a recent interview and had this to say about our activity: “I don’t expect any more ‘exciting’ signings because you don’t want to be overbooked in certain positions”. However, Bilic did add “I presume if nothing extraordinary happens in the market”, opening up the outside chance of a little bit more minor business in the coming months. So, have Bilic and his backroom staff already assembled their squad for the new Premier League season, or could there yet be further additions?
Oxford notches first Gladbach goal
Our bright young defender Reece Oxford has scored the first-goal of his loan spell at Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach. The 18-year-old made the move to Germany in June, after an unsuccessful spell at Reading last season and Slaven Bilic’s decision that he needs more experience before being drafted into the senior squad. Oxford made his first-team debut in August 2015, impressing after starting at The Emirates against Arsenal aged just 16.
However, the starlet has found playing chances few and far between since then and will hope that his new-venture will give him the experience that he needs. His first goal for Dieter Hecking’s men came in a friendly victory over La Liga side Malaga, in the form of a 77th minute leveller. Many are hoping that the goal will be the first of many great moments for Oxford in Germany and that he returns to England ready to finally fulfil his optimistic label of ‘future captain of West Ham United’.
Transfer gossip: Hammers hold stern on key duo
It has been reported in the last few days by The Express that we are not willing to hold discussions with Everton over the sale of centre-back Winston Reid. The Kiwi joined us in the 2010 and has been a regular fixture in the first-team ever since, playing a key role over several seasons as vice-captain to current skipper Mark Noble. The New-Zealand captain is also famed for scoring the final goal at The Boleyn Ground and the memorable winner over bitter rivals Millwall in 2012. However, various Media Outlets have rumoured that a switch to Ronald Koeman’s Toffees could be on the cards, but the physical defender is understandably not for sale with the start of The Premier League season less than two-weeks away.
It has also been rumoured this week by The Daily Star that David Gold and David Sullivan have blocked an approach from Liverpool to sign our Argentina international midfielder Manuel Lanzini. The number ten has impressed wildly in his first two seasons in East-London, winning Player’s Player of the Season for last season and attracting attention from Europe’s top domestic clubs. However, the 24-year-old is under-contract until 2020 at The London Stadium, after making his loan move from Al Jazira permanent last summer. So, with Lanzini set to stay in Stratford, he will continue to be “The Jewell” in the crown of West Ham United for the foreseeable future.