With every week that goes by, West Ham United seem to see at least one of their summer targets put pen to paper with a rival Premier League club.
Now, in the opening few days of July, it is the turn of Everton and Sunderland to exacerbate the growing frustrations of the London Stadium faithful.
West Ham were keen on Liam Delap before his £30 million move to Chelsea. Caoimhin Kelleher swapped Liverpool for Brentford, while Sunderland smashed their transfer record on Habib Diarra.
Heading into July with only teenager Ollie Scarles and the exit-linked Emerson Palmieri as their senior left-back options, West Ham United will no longer be able to call upon Adrien Truffert or Quilindschy Hartman either.
The southpaw duo have secured moves to Bournemouth and Burnley respectively.
Speaking of Sunderland, Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats have held discussions over Georges Mikautadze while reportedly looking into a deal for Hamed Traore. Two more players with reported admirers at the London Stadium.
Now, with Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic reportedly bound for Wearside and Everton closing on Villarreal striker Thierno Barry, West Ham’s long wait for a maiden first-team signing of the summer looks destined to drag on with barely even a glint of light at the end of the tunnel.
Sunderland set to sign West Ham United target Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea
In addition to the aforementioned Kelleher, West Ham placed Djordje Petrovic on their goalkeeper shortlist following the departure of Lukasz Fabianski.
Hammers News understands that the interest in Chelsea’s Serbian shot-stopper was indeed serious. But with Graham Potter waiting patiently for funds to be made available, Sunderland look set to snatch Petrovic from under his nose.
After signing Diarra and agreeing a £17 million deal for Anderlecht midfielder Noah Sadiki, Sacha Tavolieri reports that Sunderland are closing in on the £21 million-rated Petrovic too.
“Sunderland AFC aren’t done yet today,” the reporter writes on X. “Newly promoted side are close to finalising the signing of Chelsea FC goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic on a five-year deal.
“Deal worth around 25 million euros.”
If only West Ham could move with the same decisiveness, the same bare-faced ambition, as a club who were playing in League One only a couple of years ago.
David Moyes is bringing Villarreal striker Thierno Barry to Everton
So, that is one goalkeeper down for West Ham. A striker shortlist which appears to be growing smaller by the day, and one which will no longer contain the name of Thierno Barry.
Former Hammers boss David Moyes is set to get his mitts on a forward who scored 11 La Liga goals last season.
Barry has a £34 million release clause in his Villarreal contract. i News, however, report that Everton are expected to seal a deal for around £27 million.
Will West Ham’s frustration ever end? Will a signing ever arrive?
Well, just to add insult to injury, it appears that the solution to this summer of malaise will be to sell Mohammed Kudus to one of the their fiercest rivals.
Tottenham are in talks to sign Kudus for a deal reportedly in the region of £60 million. Expected to become the first player in 14 years to leave one London giant for the other, Kudus may be taking on the role of a sacrificial lamb offered up to the cruel PSR gods.
By the time his departure is confirmed, however, so many of West Ham’s summer targets will already have new homes.
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