West Ham have accelerated their bid to put together a ridiculously good midfield with four into two the clear plan.
The summer transfer window has been like groundhog day for West Ham fans so far.
All the fun of the transfer fair officially opened for domestic deals on June 15th – and for all transfers from July 1st – but the Hammers are yet to make a single signing for their first team.
West Ham have £105m burning a hole in their pockets – which actually translates to a transfer budget in the region of £133m – here’s how.
And that figure will be added to with the expected departures of Nikola Vlasic and Aaron Cresswell further boosting the kitty by around £15m. Gianluca Scamacca and Michail Antonio are also being linked with West Ham exits.
A reported £14-15m of it will go on the club’s first arrival with Man City youngster Carlos Borges now said to be close to joining this week.
West Ham accelerate bid to put together ridiculous midfield with four into two the clear plan
But it is central midfield which is the overwhelmingly obvious priority for West Ham with the new season less than three weeks away.
We reported on tragic claims from a site with connections to Hammers majority owner David Sullivan at the weekend stating the club were not remotely close to signing any other players.
The same source doubled down on that depressing situation yesterday.
As far as speculation goes, though, things have ratcheted up massively in the last 48 hours.
Bids have now reportedly been made for several central midfielders. The approach appears scattergun and some fans are confused over who is targeting the players in question.
But each of them would fit in well and improve the team at the London Stadium.
Bids in for four to fill two holes all built around ringmaster Paqueta
West Ham are accelerating their bid to put together a ridiculously good midfield with four into two the clear plan.
According to widespread reports, including from the likes of Sky Sports and other outlets, West Ham have now officially bid or made moves for Conor Gallagher, Scott McTominay, James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez.
Clearly the Hammers won’t be signing all of those central midfielders.
Both David Moyes and Sullivan have both publicly stated the Hammers would be looking to sign two midfielders to replace Declan Rice.
With the clock ticking to the start of the new season, West Ham are hedging their bets with bids for those four players in the hope of getting deals done for two of them.
And whatever combination they end up with they will have some midfield with Lucas Paqueta in the mix.
Finally some welcome transfer news for Hammers fans
Ward-Prowse is looking the most likely to get done first. And his set pieces will add 15-20 goals to any side.
Him alongside a Gallagher, Alvarez or McTominay would give West Ham a seriously dynamic midfield which boasts a little bit of everything.
A lovely mix of guile, vision, passing class and set piece delivery from Paqueta and Ward-Prowse.
And the relentless energy, harrying and tackling of a Gallagher, McTominay or Alvarez.
McTominay would bring a strong goal threat should he sign while Gallagher has also showed he is capable of playing box-to-box too.
Alvarez would be a more defensively focused, destructive figure but he would offer a great aerial threat from set pieces and is as brave as a lion.
Let’s not forget Paqueta is not afraid to get stuck in either. So West Ham’s plan of four into two should seriously excite supporters.
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