West Ham boss David Moyes has absolutely done Patrick Vieira and Swansea like kippers over the £12.5m Flynn Downes transfer.
The summer transfer window was deemed a big success for West Ham with eight signings and over £170m spent.
Crystal Palace fans were hoping for more and some Eagles supporters have even hailed the business done by the Hammers during the summer, so impressive it was.
As many fans of West Ham and Crystal Palace and Swansea City will know, one particular Moyes signing could well have ended up in south London instead.
The story goes that Crystal Palace boss Vieira was closing in on signing Downes from Swansea.
But West Ham swooped in at the 11th hour and managed to steal the highly-rated midfielder from right under his nose.
Downes, a boyhood Hammer, was a rare example of West Ham getting a deal done quickly and efficiently during a window where most transfers seemed to be a bit of a saga.
There was talk at the time that Downes had gone as far as having had his announcement video and pictures done with the Crystal Palace media team after agreeing a deal with Swansea.
It was probably one of the most low-key transfers of the summer for West Ham.
West Ham boss David Moyes has done Patrick Vieira and Swansea like kippers over £12.5m Flynn Downes transfer
And given that the young midfielder has barely played in the Premier League so far, Palace fans may well have forgotten they were ever in for him.
But West Ham boss Moyes has done Vieira and Swansea like kippers over the £12.5m Downes transfer.
Because it has become abundantly clear in the last few weeks that the Hammers have a serious player on their hands.
Downes was man of the match in both his starts in Europe against Steaua Bucharest and in the first game against Anderlecht.
And he made it a hat-trick last night with yet another commanding display and another win as the Belgian side came to east London.
Downes was phenomenal again for the Hammers, looking like a lovely blend between Mark Noble and Declan Rice.
Moyes has admitted the man who snubbed Palace is now giving him a major selection headache for the Premier League.
His reading of the game, passing, decision making, tackling, attitude, athleticism, awareness – I could go on – are all top notch. And he is only just getting started.
West Ham fans have been left scratching their heads at how they have managed to get Downes for just £12.5m.
In the modern game that is an absolute snip. Palace and Swansea will surely be kicking themselves.
The Swans could and should have demanded double, not that West Ham are complaining of course.
The Downes transfer could go down as one of the best of the modern era for West Ham.
Moyes has not just signed a quality midfielder to replace Mark Noble on the pitch. He’s signed the heir to Declan Rice as player and captain for just £12.5m.
MORE WEST HAM NEWS
West Ham star wants to get Moyes singing new chant about him.
‘He’s Dracula’ Dawson lifts lid on his unlikely bromance with West Ham star.
Surprise new contract on cards for Lanzini after Moyes comments.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
