West Ham United received some unexpected resistance before tying up a deal which sees Nuno Espirito Santo reunite with former Fulham winger Adama Traore on the Premier League stage.
Fulham initially slapped an audacious £7 million price-tag on the head of a winger who had started only one league match in the first half the campaign.
A winger who was also due to become a free-agent a few months down the line.
We all love the club to bits, but let’s be real – what would you have to tell a new signing to convince them to join?! 😔
Such a stance appeared to scupper Nuno’s hopes of a reunion, though West Ham United were able to get a deal done in the end. The Hammers and Fulham eventually shook hands after agreeing a £2 million fee.
Why did their London neighbours cave and lower their demands by £5 million? Head coach Marco Silva has indicated that Fulham opted against dragging their feet any longer once it became clear that Traore would have to leave to make room for marquee signing Oscar Bobb.
Fulham show an ambition West Ham United cannot match as Adama Traore swaps clubs
Fulham snapped up youngster Bobb in a £27 million deal from Manchester City just days after Traore’s exit was confirmed.
Sections of an unhappy West Ham fanbase would be forgiven for glancing over at Craven Cottage with a pang of envy.
While Fulham continue to punch above their weight, only six points off Chelsea in fifth, Silva’s side are also signing one of the brightest attacking prospects in England. All the while, the Hammers are making do with an uninspired, underwhelming 30-year-old who has only 14 goals to show for nearly 250 Premier League appearances.
“When a player like Adama left our football club at around 29 or 30 years old, we were able to make a move like this one for a younger player in that position,” Silva told reporters. “That shows what we want to do for the present, but for the future too.”
A 33-year-old from the Championship? Really? 🤯
What is the STRANGEST or WORST transfer rumour you've heard?
“I am very pleased, definitely. Very pleased because I think it is a very, very good move from ourselves. [Bobb] is a clear replacement for the player that left the football club, that was Adama. We signed Oscar and it is a great move from us.
“Of course, I have to congratulate the club and the board for the move. To react to the player that left the football club, Adama, to replace him with a – in my opinion – very, very talented player like Oscar Bobb…”
If only West Ham were moving with such ambition; reduced to short-term, cut-price deals as their rivals make big, bold bets on a potential superstars.
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