West Ham could be set for a new transfer low as Championship Leicester City line up a move for a striker Kyle Macaulay is keen to bring to east London — despite the Foxes operating under a transfer embargo.
If West Ham need any reminder of how quickly a club can fall from grace, they need only look at Leicester.
After that fairy-tale Premier League title triumph, playing in the Champions League and lifting the FA Cup, the Foxes have been relegated twice in the last three seasons.
Many top pundits, journalists and fans predicted West Ham could follow Leicester into the second tier this season.
That would be just three years after the Hammers won the club’s only major trophy of the last 45 years and qualified for Europe three seasons in a row for the first time in their 130-year history.
Leicester prove West Ham are not immune from relegation
Not to mention West Ham achieving their record Premier League points tally in that time too.
After 19 months of regression, the Hammers have done nothing to suggest the doom-mongers will be wrong about their survival chances.
A 3-0 defeat at newly-promoted Sunderland and 5-1 home battering by Chelsea has piled pressure on Graham Potter as well as head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay and the club’s owners to make much-needed signings.
With a week left of the summer transfer window, the heat is very much on and tensions are fraying.
Potter made a very public transfer demand of West Ham’s owners after the defeat to Chelsea.
In response the Hammers board have issued an ultimatum to Potter if he wants to avoid the sack.
West Ham have been linked with a host of midfielders of late.
But recent matches have also proved they are desperately short up front too.
The Hammers have one of the oldest and most immobile striker pairings in Premier League history in Callum Wilson and Niclas Fullkrug, who turn 34 and 33 this season.
That’s why Macaulay has been keen to bring in dynamic young Metz powerhouse striker Idrissa Gueye.
A report from the Senegal star’s homeland recently claimed West Ham were closing on a bargain £13.5m deal for Gueye.
Leicester could beat West Ham to striker Macaulay wants
It was claimed a deal was “imminent” for the Hammers target – who has been personally scouted by Macaulay according to reports.
There was even a claim in the recent report that 18-year-old Gueye, who has been compared to Sadio Mane, has already ‘agreed personal terms’ over a move to the London Stadium.
Things have gone quiet on West Ham’s move for Gueye as the focus shifted to midfield instead following the dismal start to the campaign.
And it seems Leicester could take advantage – despite being in the division below and operating under a transfer embargo.
The Foxes, who have won two of their opening three Championship matches, are prohibited from making permanent signings but can bring players in on loan according to journalist Alan Nixon.
This summer window needed to be among the best the Hammers have pulled off for years given the drastic improvement needed and how much their rivals have been spending to get better.
However, in what would surely signal a new low in this most underwhelming of summer windows, Leicester have launched an ambitious loan move for Gueye with a view to then signing him permanently when the restrictions are lifted.
Reporting on his Patreon, Nixon said Leicester are proposing to take Gueye on loan for the season with a guaranteed buy at around £13 million next summer.
He claims Metz will do the deal if there is a transfer and loan fee guaranteed.
There is a small glimmer of hope for Macaulay and West Ham in that Leicester’s move would ‘still need to be signed off by the EFL authorities’.
Gueye twist a new low for Hammers with Foxes under embargo
Nixon says the Gueye plan will have to be approved because the EFL have clamped down hard on Leicester for past offences – making it difficult for them to trade now.
West Ham have a gravely concerning lack of pace up front which borders on negligence at Premier League level.
Speed and dynamism up front is an absolute must for any team wanting to compete in the top flight – especially this season.
Having a young forward like Gueye, who can be the club’s future leading man, providing some athleticism, pace and youthful exuberance up front could be the difference in West Ham staying up or going down.
Missing out to Leicester, if Macaulay is still keen on the talented star, would be nothing short of embarrassing.
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