It is not often that the West Ham United supporters find themselves on the same page as unpopular owner David Sullivan.
Underachievement of the Year award, here we come. A late contender thrown into the mix just with days remaining in 2025.
Fans have been protesting furiously against Sullivan and Karren Brady throughout the campaign. Lining the streets outside the equally despised London Stadium and, with banners and flags visible in every home crowd, ensuring that the nearest bed shop are forever sold out of claret-coloured sheets.
But when it comes to the potential signings of Coventry City striker Haji Wright or Norwich frontman Josh Sargent, this may be one of those very rare situations when the West Ham United faithful agree with the man in the chair’s, erm, chair.
Hammers News understands that Sullivan is wary of chasing Football League-based recruits. Despite the success of Jarrod Bowen, Said Benrahma and now Mateus Fernandes, the Hammers chairman appears to have been burnt by the additions of Flynn Downes and Jordan Hugill, for instance.
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Crysencio Summerville hasn’t scored a Premier League goal in 14 months, meanwhile.
So when it was put to Sullivan recently that West Ham could look to bring in Josh Sargent from Norwich or Haji Wright from Championship table-toppers Coventry, that stance was reiterated again.
West Ham United fans hit out at Josh Sargent and Haji Wright reports
Give Me Sport reports that the £20 million-rated Sargent is on West Ham’s radar. Despite starting the 2025/26 season in formidable fashion, the USA international went on a 14-game barren run with Norwich stuck in the relegation zone.
Fellow American Wright has not scored since October, meanwhile. Yet, according to club insider ExWHUemployee, there is genuine interest in the one-time LA Galaxy and Schalke prospect.
It is not just Sullivan, though, who appears to have serious reservations.
“If we want to play in the Championship next season, then that’s the perfect transfer window,” one fan wrote on X after learning of those links with Sargent and Wright.
“That just looks like we’re preparing for the Championship,” another agrees.
“[The board] clearly think we are getting relegated, then.”
“[Signing Sargent or Wright] would literally be preparing for the Championship next season
“If this doesn’t shout ‘Championship football next season’, nothing will.”
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Given their financial and sporting situation, West Ham would be lucky to lure a striker of Ivan Toney’s ilk next month. More affordable, more attainable options are likely to be pursued, though Franculino Dju is unlikely to join from Midtjylland after undergoing surgery on an injury that could keep him out for four months.
The feeling is that, for a rumoured £20 million apiece, the Hammers could still find better value in the market than either Sargent or Wright though.
Either way, a new recruit will be required. Especially now that Niclas Fullkrug has agreed terms with AC Milan, according to Calciomercato.
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“Both of these players have reached their ceiling and yet are not stand-outs in the Championship,” another fan writes. “Neither are better than [Rodrigo] Muniz at Fulham, [Jean-Philippe] Mateta at Palace, Igor [Jesus] at Nottingham Forest, or [Lucas] Nmecha at Leeds, who all have more pace and power.
“So why are we targeting bottom-three standard strikers?”
“Look, I’m an American and would love to see one [play] for West Ham. But those two aren’t the answer, especially at a position that hasn’t been filled in years. Need a proven striker who can hit the ground running to help out of the relegation battle.”
“Sargent/Hagi should have a striker in front of them to compete with. We need to sign a big, strong, pacy striker that will be first choice. These two don’t seem like that. We need to look abroad. [Toulouse defender Charlie] Cresswell, I like. Think that’s a good signing. We need attacking squad players also.”
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