All roads lead to ‘cursed’ star for West Ham after staggering Brentford twist

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West Ham now look certain to sign a player Graham Potter has his eye on after a staggering and very sudden twist to a transfer battle with Brentford.

Many Hammers fans often bemoan the fabled ‘West Ham curse’ that seems to hang over the club like a dark cloud.

In fact that hoodoo even seems to be extending to West Ham transfer targets now after a cruel blow to Graham Potter’s plans.

But now the Hammers appear to be actively seeking out ‘cursed’ players and Brentford are having a big say in the situation.

Graham Potter is currently taking a family holiday but admitted he will be working on West Ham’s transfer business wherever he goes, with head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay on speed dial.

West Ham plot busy summer but rivals leap into action

It’s easy to see why.

West Ham face a huge summer transfer window given how awful the side has been for the last 18 months.

And Premier League rivals such as Brentford are piling on the pressure by making early moves.

West Ham want to sign two new strikers, overhaul their midfield and strengthen their leaky rear-guard too.

Now all roads seem to lead to a ‘cursed’ star for West Ham after a staggering Brentford twist.

The summer window is now officially open and a host of players are leaving the Hammers this month.

One of them is veteran goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

Alphonse Areola has been linked with a move to Espanyol.

But regardless of what happens with the Frenchman, many feel West Ham need to sign a new number one.

There is set to be a changing of the guard in the goalkeeping department at West Ham.

West Ham have been linked with a move for Caoimhin Kelleher since he made it clear he wants to leave Liverpool to be a first choice stopper.

On Wednesday it was reported by several major outlets that West Ham had made contact with Liverpool about signing Kelleher.

All roads lead to ‘cursed’ star for West Ham after Brentford twist

According to the report, West Ham faced competition from Brentford and has held preliminary discussions with a fee of around £20m being mooted.

The Brentford links came amid speculation one of their star players, goalkeeper Mark Flekken, could be sold to Bayer Leverkusen.

It was still felt the Hammers would be favourites as the bigger club and with Potter on the hunt for a new number one.

But the Bees have put the Hammers to shame.

Because on the first official day of the transfer window, Brentford have moved quickly and decisively to agree a deal to sign Kelleher from Liverpool for a bargain £12.5m initial fee.

Fabrizio Romano has given the move his trademark ‘here we go’ suggesting it is signed, sealed and delivered.

One look at social media shows many Hammers fans are furious the club has missed out on Kelleher to super efficient Brentford.

Not least because most know who Potter will now be doubling down on signing instead.

Because Brentford beating West Ham to Kelleher means all signs really do now point to Aaron Ramsdale.

Back in April, journalist Alan Nixon revealed West Ham want Ramsdale as their new number one.

Nixon stated Kelleher was of interest to Potter too – but only as a back-up option for Southampton ‘keeper Ramsdale.

‘Relegator’ Ramsdale has been West Ham’s top target

Hammers fans have fumed about the Ramsdale links.

Former Arsenal stopper Ramsdale has been labelled ‘the Relegator’ and ‘cursed’ by football fans.

That’s after Ramsdale was relegated from the Premier League for the third time in his career with the Saints.

The Premier League is widely expected to be much more competitive next term after two straight seasons in which all three promoted clubs have gone straight back down.

Paul Merson has warned West Ham could be relegation candidates next season. He’s not alone either with the Hammers coming out among the bottom three in many polls of supporters predicting next season’s clubs to drop.

So links to ‘the Relegator’ Ramsdale have been understandable cause for concern among some supporters.

Now Brentford have swooped to steal away Kelleher, West Ham could be about to test the Ramsdale curse first hand.