It is being reported that Aaron Wan-Bissaka is now on course to finally join West Ham and it means the club’s targets must be revisited.
When Julen Lopetegui was officially unveiled as West Ham’s new manager at the start of July he declared he ‘wants to make a big noise’.
It was the headline maker from his first Hammers press conference.
But the most notable moment was actually an interaction between Lopetegui and West Ham technical director Tim Steidten, who was sat alongside him.
Lopetegui was asked about transfers and gave a pretty standard response about strengthening the squad.
When pressed he then very deliberately handed the floor to Steidten, saying the questions were better suited to the man in full control of West Ham’s recruitment.
It was sumptuously clever from Lopetegui while also respectful of the club’s new structure and hierarchy.
Because it made clear Steidten is the one in control of transfers while applying pressure to get deals done given the Spaniard has just gone on the record saying he wants to make a big noise and needs signings.
And my how Steidten has answered the call since.
Wan-Bissaka will complete West Ham’s best window ever
Brazilian teen sensation Luis Guilherme came in for around £20m. He was followed by back-up goalkeeper Wes Foderingham on a free.
Max Kilman was Steidten’s first big guaranteed starter signing in a £40m deal from Wolves in a move very much of the new head coach’s choosing – showing there is a collaboration over targets.
The Hammers signed the best player from the Championship in the £26m deal for Crysencio Summerville..
Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug then arrived from Dortmund in a £23.5m move before Argentina World Cup winner Guido Rodriguez became signing number six as he arrived on a free transfer.
West Ham have sensationally reached seven heaven with arguably their best capture of the lot as Jean-Clair Todibo agreed a move overnight.
Now full focus will turn to signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Man United after weeks of negotiations.
Wan-Bissaka will complete West Ham’s best window ever and targets must be revisited.
Targets must be revisited after sensational Hammers business
After the arrival of Rodriguez at the start of the week, the top spokesman inside the club told Hammers News West Ham were still working on several signings as ‘we need a few more’.
Todibo was one of them and the Hammers want Wan-Bissaka to be next.
Talks with Man United have become a protracted saga. And the Irons have been linked with a number of alternatives this week including Kieran Trippier and Arnau Martinez.
Fabrizio Romano has reaffirmed that West Ham hope to complete a deal for Wan-Bissaka ‘in the next days’.
He says that the Hammers will look to finalise making the 26-year-old their eighth signing once everything has been sorted with Todibo.
If Wan-Bissaka now joins, as expected, then this is a 10/10 window for West Ham.
Lopetegui and Steidten have calculatingly and methodically overhauled the Premier League’s smallest and second oldest squad.
Now there is quality and options absolutely everywhere.
Make no mistake about it, this would be West Ham’s best ever transfer window. Hands down.
Lopetegui’s job is now to knit them into a functioning team while improving the style of football.
When he was appointed the length of Lopetegui’s contract was left out of West Ham’s announcement.
It later transpired via a top club source that the ex Spain boss is on a two-year contract which will have a third year automatically activated should West Ham qualify for European competition.
When he was unveiled to Hammers fans, Lopetegui made it clear he did not want to set his team a ceiling when asked about challenging for Europe.
Now we know why.
What is stopping Champions League and cup tilt?
Because this West Ham squad is capable of seriously challenging the top sides in the division. And the Hammers finally have some depth to sustain that challenge.
Of course the title will likely be well beyond West Ham’s reach – despite Leicester’s fairytale being less than 10 years ago.
But what is to stop this new-look Hammers squad challenging for a Champions League place? Or winning a cup? Or both?
Especially as qualification for UEFA’s elite competition could go down to fifth or sixth depending on how Premier League sides fare in Europe this season.
“I don’t want to set limits. I always say you can dream, but you have to work really hard to achieve those dreams. It’s the best league with the best players and coaches, but we will believe,” Lopetegui said in that first West Ham presser.
“We’re going to try to put those demands in the minds of the players. That for me is key. We believe in that way to work.”
West Ham fans didn’t know it then but with this squad he and Steidten are assembling, Lopetegui is spot on.
And there should be some exciting times ahead for Hammers fans watching it all unfold.
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