Patience is slowly starting to drain away at West Ham United as the wait for a first genuinely eye-catching signing of the transfer window drags on.
With half of the summer gone already, the only additions are Keiber Lamadrid – the Venezuela international saw his loan deal become permanent to the tune of just £1 million – and teenage striker Jett Murphy from Chelmsford.
Things were supposed to kick up a notch once Nils Koppen was confirmed as the Director of Player Recruitment, once most players returned from the World Cup, and once Mateus Fernandes’ sale left Nuno Espirito Santo with a considerable wad of cash to play with.
Only £1m spent… How are you feeling about West Ham’s slow summer?
When will the new signings arrive? 🥱
Yet, progress has still been in short supply. Brighton and Hove Albion youngster Amario Cozier-Duberry would not be breaking West Ham’s dry spell any time soon, either.
Especially not if Jarrod Bowen goes public this week and confirms his intention to stick around.
Amario Cozier-Duberry to West Ham United feels unlikely now
Three weeks after reports emerged from The Athletic claiming that West Ham are interested in Cozier-Duberry, it appears that no decision over the winger’s future is arriving any time soon.
Cozier-Duberry showcased his ‘X-factor’ on loan at Bolton in 2025/26, helping fire the Trotters to promotion with ten goals and 13 assists in 41 games. Understandably, Bolton are keen to bring him back as they prepare for their first Championship campaign in seven years.
But after speaking to Cozier-Duberry, Wanderers boss Steven Schumacher has confirmed that the England Under-20 international is determined to force his way into Brighton’s plans during pre-season.
“His plan is to go back into Brighton and start pre-season with them,” Schumacher told Bolton News. “So I hope he goes and does really well.
“I just said to him, play with the same energy and enthusiasm that he did with us every single day, and try to impress the manager [Fabian Hurzeler]. He impressed us from day one, and I’m sure if he does that… he’s infectious.
“I hope he gets an opportunity at Brighton, I’m sure he’ll play the pre-season games there.”
Brighton will face Annecy and Strasbourg in France before hosting Roma and Bologna at The Amex. Their fourth and final pre-season match is due to take place on August 15th; a day after West Ham travel to Burnley for their Championship curtain-raiser.
This means that the Hammers are unlikely to receive a firm answer regarding Cozier-Duberry’s future for at least another month. Furthermore, there appears to be very little chance that the one-time Arsenal youngster would be in contention to make a potential West Ham debut – or to start his second season at Bolton – in line for the Championship’s opening weekend.
Sorba Thomas has been lined up as a Crysencio Summerville replacement
There is also the small matter of whether Cozier-Duberry is still an active target anyway.
The feeling is that Jarrod Bowen will commit his future to the Hammers at some point in the near future. As Cozier-Duberry is a left-footed winger who plays on the right, the chances are that he – and other, similar profiles such as Leicester City’s Abdul Fatawu – were identified as potential replacements for the skipper.
As things stand, Crysencio Summerville is currently the most likely of the departures. Hammers News can confirm that Summerville has his heart set on Manchester United; a £50 million release clause making his sale an inevitability.
Summerville out, Thomas in? Give your take on the Sorba Thomas rumours…
The Stoke star was released by West Ham as a teenager ⚒️
This may explain why Stoke City talisman Sorba Thomas has emerged as a potential transfer saga over the last few days. Thomas, a left winger rather than a right-sided forward like Cozier-Duberry or Fatawu, may become more of a necessity should Summerville leave the club rather than Bowen.
Summerville also doesn’t have a certain Hammers-mad thespian breathing down his neck…
“Well, look, he’s a very great, loyal man,” Danny Dyer, Bowen’s ever-enthusiastic father-in-law, told talkSPORT. “First and foremost, he is my family, the father of my grandchildren, of course. And, you know, it’s been tough for him. I mean, he does deserve Champions League football.
“And whatever decision he made, makes or made, I would have supported him, do you know what I mean?
“But, I don’t think he’s going anywhere. And I think he will rip up the Championship, don’t you worry yourself about that.”
Bowen stays, Summerville goes, Sorba Thomas arrives and Cozier-Duberry waits until mid-to-late August to make his decision… if your correspondent were a betting man, this is where his fiver would be going.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
