West Ham fans should strap themselves in for a large dose of deja vu because the club’s misery has deepened after an all too familiar lowball bid for a top striker target failed.
That is despite a deal being imminent in the next 24 hours, putting the Hammers behind the eight-ball before the January transfer window has even opened.
West Ham are deep in the relegation mire after another defeat, coupled with another win for Leeds.
The Hammers are now effectively seven points adrift of Leeds due to their vastly inferior goal difference.
If Forest beat Fulham on Monday then West Ham will essentially be nine points adrift of the Tricky Trees too.
The big positive is that it has been the case all season that West Ham’s most winnable run of fixtures kicks in after Christmas and through to February.
West Ham need a new striker in for most important run of games
West Ham have Premier League games against Fulham, Brighton, Wolves, Forest, Spurs and Sunderland over the next month followed by matches against Burnley and Bournemouth after a clash with inconsistent Chelsea.
The Hammers have known for months this period would be key after the abysmal start to the season under Graham Potter.
A couple of WINNABLE fixtures on the horizon! 🗓️
How many points will West Ham pick up in their next five games?
It has also been abundantly clear from the summer, let alone the start of the campaign, that West Ham also needed at least one pacy, powerful new striker to compete with ageing duo Niclas Fullkrug and Callum Wilson.
The Hammers have made it clear signing a striker is the club’s top priority in January.
Especially with Fullkrug set to depart.
But there is more misery as West Ham’s lowball striker bid fails despite an imminent deal.
Hammers News reported on the fact the Irons have struck a deal with Milan on a buy clause for Fullkrug ahead of a loan move to Italy.
Now it has been claimed the move will be concluded in the next 24 hours, nine days before the January window officially opens for business.
Given the grave situation facing West Ham, fans expect the club to be pulling out all the stops to save the club from relegation.
So the hope is that the Hammers have a deal lined up to bring in a forward of their own as early as possible in the window.
More misery as West Ham’s lowball striker bid fails
Especially as they are sanctioning Fullkrug’s departure when the club embarks on the most important run of fixtures in their recent history.
Well it seems West Ham are trying to get a striker in.
West Ham’s record when it comes to BIG MONEY signings isn’t great 💸
Who will be the player to break the curse?
But there is a sense of deja vu in the methodology as the club has allegedly seen what’s essentially being described as a ‘derisory’ offer for top target Kaio Jorge rejected out of hand by Cruzeiro and the player.
West Ham have been heavily linked with exciting Brazilian forward Jorge ever since Nuno arrived in east London.
Speculation has been rife that the Hammers had started initial talks over a deal for Jorge.
But it seems those talks haven’t lasted long.
Because once West Ham tried to make things more concrete, the usual lowball initial offer was laughed out of the room.
Jorge is not just Cruzeiro’s best player and one of Brazil’s most highly-rated young striker talents, he is also the top goalscorer in the Brazilian league.
But Cruzeiro have now officially rejected the first formal offer from West Ham for Jorge.
It had already been reported that the Brazilian club would only accept offers exceeding £30m for the 23-year-old.
So Hammers fans will be furious at reports out of Brazil detailing what they have actually done.
According to Globo, West Ham tried to sign Jorge on loan with an obligation to buy based on performance targets – and presumably the club staying in the Premier League.
Hammers must get serious over striker signing to save season
Despite being made aware of the asking price and speaking to the player’s representatives, West Ham’s obligation to buy was worth just £19m on top of a £2m loan fee.
It is claimed West Ham’s offer was instantly dismissed and to rub salt in the wound the player then made it clear he has no interest in the move either.
The question now is why West Ham have made a lowball offer when they were fully aware of Cruzeiro’s expectations and valuations.
Particularly as Nuno is about to be left with a solitary striker option in the squad.
The Hammers must get serious about signing a striker and fast or their relegation fate will be sealed.
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