West Ham paid Chelsea £1.2m to reunite recruitment guru Kyle Macauley with Graham Potter and he already looks worth every penny.
West Ham fans have longed for a coherent recruitment philosophy focused on putting together a young, talented squad built to last.
Hammers supporters look at teams like Graham Potter and Kyle Macauley’s former club Brighton, Brentford and Aston Villa with envy.
Even Spurs have been investing in top young talent in recent windows.
The single biggest failing of West Ham’s summer rebuild was the profile of player targeted.
Tim Steidten and Julen Lopetegui signed nine players for £155m.
But they somehow conspired to take the Premier League’s second oldest squad and make it THE oldest.
Of course every team needs some experienced heads.
Macaulay makes instant impact at West Ham
However, modern football, especially in the Premier League, is a younger player’s game.
Players need to be fast, powerful, dynamic and versatile.
When David Sullivan took over dealings from ousted Steidten for the January transfer window, it saw the return of the scattergun approach.
One minute West Ham were bidding £57m for 21-year-old striker Jhon Duran. The next the Hammers were linked with 29-year-old injury-prone, goal-shy nomad Andre Silva and soon-to-be 35-year-old Ciro Immobile.
Although to Sullivan’s credit he was allegedly responsible for what were perhaps West Ham’s best two signings of the summer – Crysencio Summerville and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
West Ham fans want their recruitment to be more methodical and strategic.
Now it seems they may get their wish thanks to the new setup.
Because Macaulay is making an instant impact at West Ham with a stunning swoop for a top young trio.
Hammers plot stunning swoop for top young trio
Overnight it emerged in Italy that West Ham have contacted Genoa about signing defender Koni De Winter.
De Winter is a pacy, versatile 22-year-old centre-back who can also play full-back on both sides and as a defensive midfielder.
The 6ft 3in star had been at Juventus but was loaned to Genoa, who made his move permanent for around £6m last summer.
According to a top Sport Italia reporter, De Winter is appreciated by West Ham who have made contact with Genoa about signing the young defender.
Whether that is with a view to a deal now or in the summer remains to be seen.
West Ham want three exciting talents for three key areas
Another rising young star being targeted since Macauley arrived at West Ham is Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton.
Football correspondent Graeme Bailey has told Hammers News that West Ham are now weighing up a move for Morton in the final days of the window.
Morton has made just five appearances under Arne Slot this season and started Wednesday’s Champions League tie with PSV Eindhoven from the bench.
Potter and Macauley are said to be big admirers of the 22-year-old defensive midfielder and the Hammers are understood to be considering an approach to Liverpool before Monday’s deadline.
Bailey says England Under 21 star Morton is also open to considering a move away.
Another hugely exciting target has also emerged which shows Macauley’s influence.
Brilliant striker on radar but Bournemouth more likely
Because the Hammers are interested in Lorient striker Eli Junior Kroupi in the winter transfer window.
Kroupi has earned comparisons to Thierry Henry and Kylian Mbappe in France.
The Hammers have been linked with a move for the razor sharp 18-year-old forward, who is the next big striker talent off the Lorient conveyor belt after former West Ham target Hugo Ekitike.
The likes of ExWHUEmployee and Pete O’Rourke have claimed West Ham want Kroupi.
But reports in France state a move to Bournemouth is more likely given Bill Foley owns both clubs.
Spurs and Chelsea have also been linked with Kroupi.
The teenager has lived up to the hype so far this season after initially breaking through last term when Lorient were relegated from Ligue 1.
This season Kroupi has scored eight goals and laid on two assists in 16 appearances as Lorient sit top of Ligue 2.
West Ham will be hard pushed to sign Kroupi as the deal with Bournemouth would see him stay at Lorient on loan for the rest of the season.
It is nevertheless extremely encouraging that West Ham are looking at these top young talents now Macauley is on board.
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