An astonishing West Ham transfer claim from Spanish outlet Marca may make fans feel differently about the window.
It is fair to say many West Ham fans are unhappy about the club’s lack of transfer activity in January.
David Moyes admitted he wanted to bring players in – particularly a left-sided attacker – but West Ham could not get deals done.
West Ham’s hierarchy told Hammers News back in November that fringe players would have to be moved on to satisfy FFP rules regarding wages-to-turnover.
Thilo Kehrer, Conor Coventry, Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma all left the club.
Marca’s astonishing West Ham transfer claim
The lack of arrivals leaves West Ham with just 22 senior players – the joint lightest squad in the Premier League.
So the frustration of supporters is understandable. Particularly given the golden opportunity in front of West Ham with fifth place likely to be rewarded with a spot in the new-look Champions League.
The capture of Kalvin Phillips, while impressive, was also deemed somewhat unnecessary given the lack of strength in depth in several other key areas.
Especially because Phillips has signed for West Ham on the premise that he will essentially be a guaranteed starter. Or else why leave Man City’s bench for West Ham’s?
But now Marca’s astonishing West Ham transfer claim may make fans feel differently about the window.
It may make fans feel differently about window
Because, according to the Spanish outlet, West Ham did genuinely beat the mighty Barcelona to the signing of Phillips.
“Barcelona were trying to sign a midfielder in January, and Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips was a main target,” Marca reports, as transcribed by Football Espana.
“However, when the salary space became available, they were too late to sign him, as he’d already agreed to join West Ham United for the remainder of the season.
“It remains to be seen whether Phillips is a target for Barcelona in the summer, when they are expected to have more financial flexibility. What is certain is that defensive midfielder will be top of the signing agenda.”
‘Hammers beat Barca to Phillips’
Phillips may have endured a difficult start to life at West Ham, but that is some coup for the Hammers.
Barca may not be the force they once were. But it is still BARCELONA.
Phillips is clearly rusty after 18 months on the fringes at Man City. But Tim Steidten, the Hammers’ technical director, is backing the midfielder to come good and be a key player during the second half of the season.
It is yet another victory for the man charged with getting West Ham’s deals done.
But it must also be noted that Phillips’ soft spot for Moyes was key to sealing the move.
The quiet January across the board has been attributed to the end of the three-year FFP cycle.
So West Ham will be prime candidates to spend big in the summer and Gary Neville is expecting a transfer splurge.
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