West Ham have unofficially announced their decision on a top loan star as the club’s summer transfer plans are revealed for the first time.
West Ham fans are furious with the owners over the lack of investment in the January window.
Especially having brought in Graham Potter in a bid to turn the club around.
Only striker Evan Ferguson arrived and even he was on a straight loan.
Many hoped the lack of activity was a pre-cursor to West Ham really backing Potter with significant funds in the summer window.
Doubt has been cast over that scenario playing out, though.
West Ham forfeited £4m to borrow £65m of £69m owed to them by other clubs as they spent £155m last summer.
West Ham decision on loan star already made
And a top spokesman for the owners has revealed PSR and a lack of European football is going to make it very difficult for West Ham to spend in Potter and Kyle Macauley’s first full window.
Given how awful West Ham have been for the last 14 months, that has dulled any prospect of getting back competing for the European spots next season.
Indeed West Ham are even now dicing with danger in the Premier League as they slip ever closer to the bottom three.
Ferguson looks an excellent capture.
But the Irishman is only on a “dry loan” meaning West Ham are exposed to another club swooping to sign him should he prove a success at the London Stadium.
Tim Steidten and Julen Lopetegui have left the Hammers with the oldest squad in the Premier League.
Despite the summer “rebuild” the squad is sorely lacking in several key areas.
Several players in the team are simply not good enough and must be sold.
A new number one goalkeeper, a new centre-back, two new midfielders and at least two new strikers are needed.
Player sales and exits will be key.
Now West Ham’s decision on a loan star is already made as Potter ‘overhaul’ is confirmed.
Fans – and indeed Potter and head of recruitment Macauley – may not be happy with news emerging from West Ham’s corridors of power.
Potter West Ham ‘overhaul’ confirmed
Because despite West Ham dicing with danger – as they float perilously above the relegation zone – the club is only planning a “mini overhaul ” under Potter.
And three months before the season ends, the Hammers have also decided not to purchase loan midfielder Carlos Soler.
The Spaniard put in his worst performance yet for West Ham in the 1-0 defeat to Brentford.
Soler has blown hot and cold and as a result the Hammers will not be pursuing a permanent deal.
Not that signing Soler outright would have been easy given he is on £240k per week at PSG until 2027.
A senior club source has revealed to Sean Whetstone that Soler will go back to PSG at the end of the season.
It is said to be part of a “clearing of the decks” West Ham are planning for Potter to try and bring in his own players.
Hammers need major overhaul not a mini one
“The club is planning a mini overhaul in the summer transfer window, aiming to clear the decks and allow Graham Potter to bring in his own players,” Whetstone said.
The Soler claim is nothing new.
Hammers News exclusively revealed all the way back on September 3rd – a few days after the window closed – that West Ham were highly unlikely to sign the former Spain international due to his whopping wages.
Many fans feel West Ham’s squad needs another big rebuild if Potter is to get the club competitive again.
So to hear the best the Hammers can do is a “mini overhaul’ for their new boss will likely worry and infuriate supporters in equal measure.
While the decision has been made on Soler, nothing official or unofficial has emerged about the club’s plans for fellow loan signing Evan Ferguson.
Hammers supporters already liked what they saw of Ferguson on his debut in the second half against Brentford.
But whether West Ham can – or will be able to – afford him remains to be seen.
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