West Ham are buying a dud if they push through with a move for Ajax striker Brian Brobbey according to a club legend.
The Hammers are currently in a holding pattern in their move for Dutch striker Brian Brobbey.
The 22-year-old forward has emerged as West Ham’s prime target this week.
Brobbey reportedly wants the move and has already agreed terms with West Ham in the background.
But West Ham are still negotiating with Ajax over the details of the loan with obligation to buy.
The powerful striker flew to London last night where he remains today as talks continue.
Most West Ham fans were relieved when the club switched focus from Andre Silva to Brobbey this week.
It emerged that a move for ageing, injury-prone journeyman forward Silva was a back-up for West Ham with Brobbey the priority.
Ajax legend floors West Ham with brutal Brobbey claim
It has been reported that Brobbey is the striker Hammers boss Graham Potter wants.
It’s easy to see why West Ham are interested given the striking similarities between the Ajax man and Michail Antonio.
There was relief for West Ham after both Spurs and Roma dropped out of the race overnight.
But West Ham might be tempted to pull the plug themselves, if they take notice of comments from a high profile name on the situation.
Ajax legend Frank de Boer has floored West Ham with a brutal claim about their £25m Brobbey move.
Quite literally.
Former Palace managerial flop De Boer has been speaking about West Ham’s move for Brobbey on Viaplay Sport Nederland.
De Boer says he thinks it is “incredible and unbelievable” that West Ham are willing to pay up to £25m for the forward.
Because the Ajax and Holland legend says Brobbey spends most of his time laying on the floor.
De Boer also highlighted that even strikers who have put up huge numbers in the Eredivisie have struggled to make it in the Premier League.
So he doesn’t believe “one-season wonder” Brobbey has what it takes.
De Boer gets Frank on Brobbey amid £25m West Ham move
“I think it’s incredible (West Ham could sign Brobbey for up to £25m),” De Boer said.
“If you can only score one goal in the Eredivisie, I think that’s very, very moderate.
“I honestly have very big question marks. If you can’t do that in the Eredivisie. We’re talking about the Eredivisie. It’s such a big difference between the Premier League or Eredivisie.
“How often have we not seen top scorers who score 40 goals and then never heard of him again because they went to the Premier League or something.
“In my opinion, he (Brobbey) did well for one year. But for the rest, at the moment, I only see him lying on the ground.”
Potter’s opinion on Brobbey should be only thing that matters
Should West Ham reconsider the move in light of that savage assessment.
On the face of it, Brobbey has the pace, power and link-up play West Ham are sorely missing.
De Boer is right to point out his struggles this season with three goals and seven assists to his name.
But Brobbey did score 20 goals and laid on eight assists last season.
De Boer will have watched the striker much more closely than West Ham, though.
On the flip side does it really matter what anyone else thinks about Brobbey if Potter thinks he is the right man to bring in?
Especially as he has the attributes to lead Potter’s preferred high-intensity, high-pressing style of play.
It must also be remembered he is still young enough to improve as well.
The comments will certainly give West Ham’s owners something to think about.
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