Jim White insists he is ‘no mouthpiece’ for West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold and criticises sceptical fans in transfer rant.
West Ham fans are angry with the club’s lack of activity in the January transfer window.
Hammers boss David Moyes made it clear he was looking to bring a new striker to West Ham after two years of trying with no joy.
The Scot also wanted a new left-sided centre-back at West Ham.
But there were no new arrivals and supporters feel it shows a serious lack of ambition with clear gaps in the squad and West Ham having so much to play for in the second half of the season.
There has been a backlash from a large section of the support who feel a lack of ambition could cost the club a golden chance of real success this season.
West Ham were linked with a plethora of players over the course of the month and a number of much-publicised bids for players such as Raphinha, Kalvin Phillips and Darwin Nunez.
But the Hammers were mocked by the likes of Simon Jordan and former Hammers striker Dean Ashton for ‘phantom bids and faux ambition’.
Moyes did an interview with the club’s official website this week in which he insisted he had the backing of the board to make signings but could not get the players he wanted.
After the criticism of West Ham’s owners this week they have been defended by talkSPORT presenter Jim White.
White is often accused of being a sycophant when it comes to David Sullivan and David Gold. Some supporters believe the presenter ‘cosies up’ to Sullivan and Gold for stories and information.
So West Ham fans were not in the least bit surprised when White took to their defence yesterday while criticising supporters for their reaction to the window failings.
The Scot, who is synonymous with transfer deadline day, also claimed fans should in some way be pleased because he had been told the bids the club had made were real.
Jim White insists he is ‘no mouthpiece’ for West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold and criticises sceptical fans
White also tried to insist he is not ‘a mouthpiece for Sullivan and Gold’.
“An agent who was involved in all of that has just messaged me saying – I think this was Phillips or Nunez – 45m Euros plus 5m in add-ons,” White said on talkSPORT.
“A deal was in place for the other player – which I presume was Phillips – £50m plus £10m in add-ons. But there were too many agents involved, too many individuals and the whole thing got a bit confused and it didn’t happen.
“And this fella who is messaging me is a gentleman I respect, I know him well, and I think so I would place my faith in that information from him. Does this appease West Ham fans who said “get real, there were no bids”.
“The view of a whole bunch of west Ham fans is now Moyes the yes man, the yes man to the board. You’ve got to draw the line somewhere.
“Listen I’m not trying to be a mouthpiece for Sullivan, Gold or whoever we’re just kicking it about. But when Moyes says we made three record transfer bids in the window then they made three record transfer bids in the window.”
Opinion: What White does not seem to be able to get his head around – despite the best efforts of co-presenter Simon Jordan – is that making unrealistic bids for headlines and getting deals done are two entirely different things.
It’s akin to me going into a Ferrari showroom and offering £20k for their top car. Then when they tell me where to go, me going in the pub and telling everyone ‘I just tried to buy a Ferrari, most money I’ve ever tried to spend but they wouldn’t sell it to me’.
The fact West Ham were willing to break their transfer record is meaningless. For a start West Ham’s record transfer is £45m – hardly an earth-shattering amount by modern standards.
And to get deals done for top players you have to pay what the selling club believes they are worth. Simple as. This is not a market stall where you haggle back and forth and get everything half price.
These are historic, established multi-million pound clubs with their own big fanbases to appease.
Now the focus has switched to the summer window where expectations will now be through the roof.
More West Ham news:
Declan Rice sets record straight over Chelsea and West Ham loyalties.
Ex West Ham coach makes bold £70m summer striker signing claim.
Kalvin Phillips trolls West Ham over £50m bid then deletes comment.
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