West Ham United are prime candidates to spend big as Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville predicts a summer transfer splurge.
It is fair to say the January transfer window proved very underwhelming – and not just for West Ham.
Hammers fans have been left angry by the club’s lack of signings as the deadline passed.
David Moyes admitted he wanted to bring in players – particularly a left-sided attacker – but West Ham could not get deals done.
As the dust settles on the winter window, West Ham look to have actually pulled off one of the better signings in the shape of Kalvin Phillips.
Even if many feel the Hammers didn’t actually needed another central midfielder.
West Ham prime candidates to spend big
West Ham’s hierarchy told Hammers News back in November that fringe players would have to be moved on to satisfy FFP rules regarding wages-to-turnover.
Thilo Kehrer, Conor Coventry, Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma have all left the club.
The lack of arrivals leaves West Ham with just 22 senior players – the joint lightest squad in the Premier League.
So the frustration of supporters is understandable. Particularly given the golden opportunity in front of West Ham with fifth place likely to be rewarded with a spot in the new-look Champions League.
It seems fan patience may well be rewarded in the summer, though, if a prediction from Sky Sports’ leading pundit proves accurate.
Because West Ham will be prime candidates to spend big as Gary Neville predicts a summer transfer splurge.
Neville predicts summer transfer splurge after quiet January
West Ham have made a decent net profit on transfers in the last two windows. That, combined with a lack of spending in January and the start of a new three-year FFP cycle, should put the Hammers in a great position to spend come the summer transfer window.
Neville has pointed out that the likes of David Sullivan, Daniel Kretinsky and their fellow Premier League owners are making the same money if not more.
And Neville has told Sky Sports he fully expects spending to ‘explode’ after the quiet January window.
“We got the window we’ve always talked about in the football community,” Neville said.
“We’ve always said January is the most difficult time to do business. January is the time were you don’t get value for money, January is the time whereby you sort of panic buy so you shouldn’t do too much in this window.
“Probably the odd thing is that last year when you were nearly spending £900m in a January window, it goes against everything we say about the game because we talk about those difficulties and challenges.
“There’s no doubt that Covid is maybe catching up with clubs. The threat of real punishment and the Premier League stamping down on the FFP element… There is a lot of caution…
Hammers owners under pressure to invest
“I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I know that maybe fans that love transfer deadline day (were disappointed). But actually maybe it’s the start of something that means we’ll see a bit more sustainability and smartness in this window moving forward.
“I would expect the summer will explode again. You’ve got to remember the TV money is still the same as it was so the cash is still going into the clubs. The money is there that’s always been there and more.
“I don’t think it’s a case of clubs not having the money. It’s maybe a case of Covid and the losses catching up with them. Maybe a slightly newer approach, thinking about things in a little bit more of measured fashion.
“The main thing might be that FFP seems to be hitting. Manchester United have spent hundreds of millions and they’re on the edge of FFP.
“It’s not just the likes of Everton and Forest who are near the bottom of the league and trying to catch up. It’s the clubs right at the very top who are having to move forward with more caution.”
One thing is for certain, Sullivan and Kretinsky will certainly be under pressure to give Tim Steidten and – if still manager – Moyes the funds to maintain West Ham’s progression.
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