A leading Aston Villa journalist has made a stunning West Ham claim which means a first signing could be just days away – although one Sky Sports reporter says he has new information.
Both Aston Villa and Hammers fans have been getting frustrated by the lack of transfer activity at their clubs so far.
FIFA extended this year’s summer window by over a month – but so far neither West Ham nor Villa have taken advantage of it.
West Ham have been pleading PSR poverty and claiming huge £100m plus losses are on the horizon in their next accounts.
As a result, many fear the Hammers will be relegation candidates next season.
It is a far cry from the ambitious spending and European adventures of recent years.
Aston Villa reporter’s stunning new West Ham deal claim
There has been a claret and blue role reversal in that regard between the Irons and Premier League rivals Aston Villa in recent seasons.
Yet somewhat surprisingly, Aston Villa are even worse off than West Ham claim to be.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire explained recently that Villa are the team most at risk of breaching PSR.
Maguire revealed that when Villa qualified for the Champions League, they spent £91 on wages for every £100 they made in revenue.
Monday is an unofficial transfer deadline of sorts in the Premier League.
Because the 30th of June is the year end for the 2024/25 accounts, where clubs need to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.
West Ham have been insisting they have no wiggle room for transfers due to PSR.
But the Hammers are not believed to be in danger of any imminent PSR breach, whereas Aston Villa – it is widely claimed – are.
As a result, Unai Emery needs to offload a player to raise around £30-40m, it has been claimed.
While Graham Potter is relying on a number of sales to raise transfer funds, it is reported Emery needs one to avoid a PSR sanction.
West Ham plan to offload the likes of Mohammed Kudus and, if cleared of spot-fixing, Lucas Paqueta.
First Hammers signing could be days away if Villa claim is true
It has been reported that West Ham’s owners can inject £90m if they want and need to this window.
And some of that could be heading Villa’s way it seems – although there has been a new twist to what is a fast-developing story.
West Ham will be looking to sign a replacement for Kudus, who will definitely be sold this summer.
According to a recent report, West Ham have made enquiries about Villa star Jacob Ramsey.
The Guardian then doubled down on that claim 10 days ago, stating the Hammers are plotting to leave it as late as possible in June to make their Ramsey bid in the hope of driving down the price.
Ramsey was a breath of fresh air when he first burst on the scene at Villa. But he has not played as much as he would have liked since the blossoming of Morgan Rogers.
The Daily Mail’s Aston Villa reporter Tom Collomosse was the first to report West Ham’s interest in Ramsey.
Now in a new article, he claims Ramsey is a player Villa are willing to sell before Monday’s deadline and that there is tentative interest from West Ham.
Collomosse claims the current asking price of about £40m is deemed relatively steep by the Hammers.
But the fact he would bring Villa pure 100 per cent profit is seen as crucial for adhering to PSR.
It is also claimed that while Emery likes the player, he has become less reliable due to persistent injuries.
Enter West Ham.
Twist as Sky Sports make fresh Villa PSR claim
Clearly the Hammers would be offsetting any deal for Ramsey against forthcoming sales – or a cash injection from the owners.
As seems to be the case with most exciting West Ham transfer stories of late, though, there is a fly in the ointment.
Because speaking on Sky Sports News’ Transfer Show on Friday night, reporter James Savundra insists Villa do not need to make any sales.
“It’s been widely reported they’re a club that need to potentially do business to comply with PSR,” Savundra said at 7.54pm.
“I’ve been told by a source at Aston Villa that’s not the case – they’re absolutely sure they will fit within the laws of PSR because last year we saw them being very creative with the deals they were able to do.
“But they look like they’ll be absolutely fine…
“Aston Villa fans, who have been a little bit frustrated with the lack of transfer activity so far, I think following this mini (PSR) window closing on the 30th of June, you would expect them to do some business.”
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