There is never a dull moment at West Ham United but the last week may have taken that adage to a new level as 11 major stories ended with Daniel Kretinsky and Jarrod Bowen bombshells.
If you thought David Sullivan resigning from the West Ham board was huge, word from the camps of co-owner Daniel Kretinsky and captain Jarrod Bowen have added fuel to the inferno of Hammers news in the last seven days.
It has been a whirlwind week in the weird and wonderful world of West Ham.
There have been 11 major West Ham stories break this week as the club stands at a crossroads over its very future.
Sullivan, Kretinsky and Bowen bombshells cap wild week for West Ham
Things started off with some surprising transfer news which now seems tame in comparison with what has followed.
West Ham rather surprisingly activated their £1m option to buy Venezuela international winger Keiber Lamadrid after an inconspicuous six-month loan spell while the Hammers also signalled their intentions to keep muscle-bound winger Adama Traore for their assault on Championship promotion.
DISCUSS: Keeping Adama Traore is a bad idea 😡
He's done nothing!
After the club confirmed they hoped to keep captain Bowen, Hammers News exclusively revealed West Ham want to keep Mateus Fernandes too amid interest from a host of elite clubs. The Hammers value Fernandes at £80m and will not accept anything less than £60-70m if they do sell.
Another big story emerged surrounding Bowen as it was revealed West Ham want to keep him on his current £150k per week salary as a reward for staying loyal to them in the second tier.
More changes are in the offing behind the scenes as highly-regarded scout Max Hahn left the club with West Ham eyeing a new director of football figure in the very near future. It is claimed head coach Nuno Espirito Santo will have a big say on who that director of football will be.
While West Ham want the likes of Bowen and Tomas Soucek to stay, the club must still balance the books amid financial turmoil with Crysencio Summerville, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo among those the club want to sell.
It comes as West Ham need to raise between £90-150m in funding to plug the hole in the club’s finances – more on that in a moment.
11 major West Ham stories in whirlwind week
As part of the rebuild West Ham are targeting Championship and Ligue 2 players with potential and experienced stars to blend together for their attempt to bounce straight back to the top flight.
One player the Hammers won’t have to replace is powerful midfielder Soungoutou Magassa. The Frenchman has been linked with clubs in Turkey, France and Germany, including Eintracht Frankfurt. But Magassa publicly committed his future to West Ham in a post on social media this weekend.
How do you feel NOW about a full Daniel Kretinsky takeover? 💰
Sullivan out at all costs? Or has the Czech ship sailed?
Then came the massive news about Sullivan resigning from the West Ham board. After a statement from the club, Sullivan then confirmed the door is closed on any West Ham return in the future. Sullivan’s exit is undoubtedly the biggest news of the last 16 years at the club.
But it may have been equalled by bombshells on mega-rich co-owner Kretinsky and captain Bowen.
Celebrity West Ham fan and father-in-law of the club’s captain Danny Dyer is well placed to offer insight on Bowen’s future.
And Dyer has confirmed Bowen has told West Ham he wants to stay, leaving Kretinsky no excuse but to keep him at the club.
Then came arguably the biggest news of the week overnight.
Kretinsky’s exciting West Ham masterplan has been leaked and it includes a £90m cash injection, buying out the Sullivans altogether and owning the London Stadium.
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