West Ham supporters are no strangers to deadline day drama, but a fresh message from the club’s owners has raised eyebrows for all the right reasons.
- Hammers News exclusive
With time now rapidly running out in the winter transfer window, a succinct five-word pledge has emerged — one that suggests there may yet be movement before the clock runs down.
West Ham started the window on the attack – quite literally – by signing two new strikers within the first 48 hours of the market officially opening.
Taty Castellanos and Pablo cost the Hammers £47m and have been followed by two further attacking signings in the shape of wingers Keiber Lamadrid and Adama Traore.
Taty and Pablo have been popular with fans thanks to their fantastic work ethic and pressing.
West Ham leave most important position until last
But, on early evidence, there is no hiding both lack the kind of pace and quality to be consistent goal threats in the Premier League.
Scoring has not been West Ham’s biggest problem, though.
Pretend YOU call the shots – who are you signing on Deadline Day?! 🤑
Feel free to name one REALISTIC target and one DREAM addition 😂
Keeping the ball out of their own net has – as evidenced by the fact the Hammers now have the worst defence in the top flight.
The team in possession of that unwelcome statistic are almost always relegated.
Nottingham Forest’s draw against Palace – and West Ham’s inferior goal difference – mean Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are now effectively seven points adrift of safety with 14 games to play.
Just as many experts predicted early in the season, it is looking increasingly likely that at least 40 points will be needed to stay up. Some forecast it could be as many as 43.
That would require West Ham to win at least half their remaining games to survive.
A tall order for a team which would have been made more achievable had the Hammers only held on to their lead – or even a point – in the 3-2 collapse at Chelsea on Saturday.
That set a new record of throwing away 18 points from winning positions.
And it all comes back to West Ham’s leaky defence.
Shipping an average of two goals per game, the Hammers will be playing in the Championship unless the issue is addressed.
West Ham owners issue promising five-word transfer pledge
That is why so many Irons fans have been left baffled by the club’s failure to sign a new centre-back in January.
Now West Ham have just 24 hours to bring one in before the window slams shut at 7pm on Wednesday night.
How many points do we NEED from these next five games?
And how many do you think we WILL get?
And Nuno’s need has become more desperate after Jean-Clair Todibo was brainlessly sent off at Chelsea, picking up a three-game ban for violent conduct.
The Hammers have been linked with a number of defenders over the last week including Axel Disasi and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Many fans are despairing that the club have left it this late to try and sign a centre-half.
There are also concerns that the club have left it far too late to get a deal done.
But there may be some positive news on that front.
Because West Ham’s owners have issued a promising five-word transfer pledge ahead of deadline day.
Hammers fans, players and the head coach Nuno were visibly on the floor after throwing away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Chelsea.
After playing so incredibly well in the first half, losing the game in the dying moments as they did was particularly cruel.
The Todibo sending off added another layer of doom and gloom to West Ham’s grim situation.
Hammers suggest deadline day deals in pipeline
Hammers News put it to the most senior spokesman for West Ham’s owners whether the club is pushing even harder for a new defender given Todibo’s suspension.
The top spokesman for the Hammers board was asked whether fans can assume the club are going to be pushing to bring in a defender in the next 24 hours.
The brief response was encouraging and suggests the club will hopefully find a deal.
“We are trying like mad!” the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners told Hammers News.
Having cancelled Igor Julio’s loan from Brighton, West Ham have two loan domestic loan slots available to them.
Don’t bet against both of those being used by the time the window shuts again until the summer.
And what West Ham do in the next 24 hours could dictate whether they go into that summer window looking forward to a 15th consecutive Premier League campaign or dreading a 46-game Championship season.
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