Newcastle fans are furious at losing their ‘jewel in the crown’ talent spotter Steve Nickson to West Ham – and it’s easy to see why as four world stars he wanted to sign before they were famous come to light.
Daniel Kretinsky is a mean businessman and West Ham’s new majority owner certainly means business.
Nothing illustrates that more than luring Steve Nickson from mega-rich Newcastle to become West Ham’s new director of football.
Earlier this week Hammers News reported that Kretinsky looked set for a major West Ham coup by landing Nickson from the Magpies.
Incoming West Ham man Nickson wanted four world stars at Newcastle before they were famous
That has since been confirmed by a number of national journalists.
The Hammers are certainly getting a recruitment specialist of the elite level if the reaction of Newcastle fans has been anything to go by.
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Toon supporters are all saying the same thing about Nickson joining West Ham – and it is a case of Newcastle’s loss very much being the Hammers’ gain.
Nickson has been behind some of Newcastle’s best transfers over the last 15 years.
Now four world stars the new West Ham man wanted at Newcastle before they were famous have come to light.
And as the Hammers eye an instant return to the Premier League, and complete rebuild on and off the pitch, it seems the future could be very bright indeed with Nickson pulling the strings.
Nickson spotted talent of French trio and Brazil star years ago
The list shows the supreme eye for talent and potential Nickson has.
Despite Nickson identifying the global sensations before they become well known, Newcastle failed to land any of them, although they did try for a couple.
Desire Doue
One of the top attacking talents in world football, Desire Doue wasn’t always as well known as he is now as a star for France and PSG.
Nickson spotted Doue’s potential when he was a teenager and dipping in and out of Rennes’ first team and reserve side.
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Nickson wanted Doue in 2022/2023, as reported by BBC Sport, but the move did not transpire.
A year later PSG ended up signing the now 21-year-old for around £42m – which looks an absolute bargain by modern standards.
It’s likely Newcastle would have already had to sell Doue on had they signed him back then. But the club would have undoubtedly made a mammoth profit.
Rayan Cherki
West Ham were actually heavily linked with a move for Man City showman Rayan Cherki when he was emerging at Lyon.
But Nickson was pushing hard for Newcastle to move for the France playmaker long before he became a household name.
Back in 2023, when Cherki was 19, Nickson wanted to bring ‘the new Hatem Ben Arfa’ to St James’ Park – as reported at the time by The Sun.
Now he is lighting up the Etihad and earning a reputation as one of the most skilful and exciting players in world football.
Hugo Ekitike
Ironically another longstanding West Ham target, Newcastle and the Hammers were actually locked in a battle for French striker Hugo Ekitike back in 2022.
Nickson advised his Newcastle bosses to sign the rapid but slightly built Ekitike. But while West Ham made a bid for Ekitike, the Magpies dragged their heels.
Both clubs were linked with Ekitike time and again thereafter but he too ended up at PSG before moving on to Eintracht Frankfurt and now Liverpool.
Joao Pedro
Newcastle tried to back Nickson by moving for Joao Pedro last summer.
But Pedro has since admitted he turned the Magpies down in favour of a move to Chelsea, who matched Newcastle’s £50m bid – as reported by Chronicle Live.
Pedro, 24, has been such a hit at Chelsea he has become a fully-fledged Brazil international – although he was a surprise omission from their World Cup squad.
It must be remembered Nickson was urging Newcastle to sign these players before they became the proven stars we see before us today.
His eye for a player is clearly up there with the very best in the game.
West Ham really have pulled off a serious coup.
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