The West Ham board have now responded once again after claims emerged of a major twist in the club’s move for a self-proclaimed “new Romelu Lukaku”.
It is 12 years ago this very week that West Ham United launched a move to sign Romelu Lukaku.
The move never happened and now, over a decade on, the Hammers are being linked with the “new Lukaku”.
West Ham are in desperate need of at least two new strikers this summer.
Danny Ings and Evan Ferguson could be followed out of the London Stadium exit by Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug.
If that happens, it will leave Graham Potter with imminent free agent arrival Daniel Cummings as his only recognised striker option.
So it’s clear to see the Hammers must bring in one or two more.
West Ham “want” new Lukaku 12 years on from bid for the man himself
West Ham fans may not want reminding of the links to Lukaku – as reported by The Daily Mail back in 2013.
Because at the time the Hammers were said to be launching the move as part of a triple bid to pair him with Andy Carroll and Wilfried Zaha.
What a forward line that would have been.
Football has changed in the 12 years since, though, with most teams rigidly sticking to having one striker leading the line.
So that striker – like Lukaku – often needs to have several core attributes such as power, pace and ability to hold the ball or beat players.
That’s before you even worry about the finishing aspect.
Potter has been linked with a whole host of young strikers already, and the summer transfer window is less than a week old.
There has been some excitement in West Ham circles about claims the club have been in advanced talks with Etienne for striker Lucas Stassin.
According to a report earlier this week, West Ham are leading the race to sign AS Saint-Etienne striker Stassin.
The skilful 20-year-old forward has just been relegated and it was claimed the Hammers were deep in talks to seal a £20-25m deal.
West Ham board respond to exciting twist in move for Stassin
It was even claimed talks had been held with both the player and his club.
West Ham responded to those claims swiftly and emphatically, almost as soon as they emerged.
The Hammers denied there was any truth to the Stassin claims at the same time they shot down talk Brighton goalkeeping coach Jack Stern was set to join West Ham.
Fans were disappointed to hear the club were not in fact in talks to sign Stassin.
Some desperately clung on to the hope it might be brinkmanship or smoke and mirrors from West Ham.
Especially after it emerged Stassin believes he’s a mixture between Lukaku and Lois Openda – the brilliant RB Leipzig star.
So fans have been understandably lapping up a report from Claret and Hugh claiming West Ham are serious about signing Stassin.
Videos of the striker in action have whetted the appetite for what he might bring to West Ham.
The 6ft Belgian ace appears to have many attributes that would benefit the Hammers.
There are even shades of Paolo Di Canio about Stassin in the way he dupes defenders with his feigning to shoot – leaving them sliding past as he bears down on goal.
When it comes to transfers there are a host of top sources with their own contacts.
Truth about West Ham and Stassin situation
With PSR being repeatedly cited by West Ham as an issue restricting spending this summer, it threatens to be a slow start to the window until sales are made.
Now the most senior spokesman for West Ham’s board has clarified the situation once again.
Hammers News put it to the club’s hierarchy that there are fresh claims West Ham are in talks to sign Stassin.
The 11-word response from West Ham leaves little room for any doubt.
“It is simply not true,” the West Ham spokesman told Hammers News on Stassin.
“We can’t buy until we sell.”
West Ham fans who had started warming to the idea of signing Stassin will just have to hope the club will go for him when they do manage to bring in some funds through a sale or two.
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