The £32m fee due for Jean-Clair Todibo this summer has been a sore subject at West Ham, but he can make it look an absolute bargain by turning agent in the club’s striker search.
West Ham have set the stall out for an exciting summer rebuild around young stars.
The Hammers have made it clear they are at their PSR limit, meaning they have to be ‘clever’ with their business in the summer transfer window.
Many thought that might mean the Hammers would take the cheap and easy option to extend the contracts of the likes of Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal and Lukasz Fabianski.
But West Ham have announced that those three – and £125k per week striker flop Danny Ings – are being released next month.
West Ham’s owners have confirmed the truth behind the quartet’s release in an exciting transfer update.
West Ham’s much-needed rebuild begins
The decision shaves 139 years off the age of the Premier League’s oldest squad.
The plan now is for manager Graham Potter, head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay, de facto director of football David Sullivan and deal negotiator Karren Brady to work together to reinvent the side around young, hungry talent.
The good news for them is that this summer’s transfer window has been extended due to the FIFA Club World Cup.
It essentially means the window opens in three weeks on June 1st and will close three months later at the start of September.
Potter has had four months to assess his current squad – and few have made a case to stay after just three wins in 16 games.
Potter revealed certain players are refusing to change and will be shipped out this summer in his most brutal West Ham squad assessment yet after the Spurs draw.
There looks to have been a refreshing shift in the profile of player being targeted by the Irons.
The Hammers have started talks for two elite young stars as part of a much-needed midfield overhaul.
West Ham have also started negotiations for a bargain young full-back amid the news Coufal is leaving.
Now plotting Potter can use agent Jean-Clair Todibo as West Ham’s prime striker target is named.
The French defender was one of West Ham’s star summer captures.
But he has endured a strange debut season in east London. On occasion Todibo has looked Champions League class, but other times he’s looked more Championship.
Potter can use agent Todibo as prime striker target named
As a result there have been question marks over Todibo’s attitude and future – especially after a bust-up with Potter’s predecessor Julen Lopetegui.
Lopetegui admitted he punished Todibo over a much-publicised and reportedly physical altercation.
There has been incessant speculation that the French defender might want out of West Ham.
Indeed a top Hammers insider even claimed recently the Hammers could be tempted to ‘flip’ Todibo after his loan became a £32m obligation upon West Ham’s Premier League safety being confirmed.
Back in January, majority owner Sullivan is alleged to have said the Todibo deal ‘has hurt’ West Ham in terms of PSR.
“We are committed to buying Todibo and that’s hurt us,” Sullivan is reported to have said in a quote attributed to him.
Hammers chief Sullivan has since been very complimentary of Todibo, who has impressed Potter in the partnership he is forging with Jarrod Bowen and Aaron Wan-Bissaka down West Ham’s right hand side.
Todibo can be West Ham’s inside man to lure Guessand
Many believe Todibo can really show his true self next term, with a full pre-season under his belt.
But that might not be the only way he benefits West Ham.
Last week Nice’s tricky midfield playmaker Sofiane Diop was seen on social media with a West Ham shirt.
Hammers News understands the strip was gifted to the star by Todibo on a visit to watch his old side.
Well now Potter can use Todibo to launch a charm offensive for Diop’s teammate as West Ham’s prime striker target for the summer has been named as Evann Guessand.
West Ham were heavily linked with a move for Guessand in January.
The rumours emerged almost as soon as head of recruitment Macaulay arrived at West Ham from Chelsea in January.
Now Caught Offside claims the Hammers have monitored 23-year-old Ivory Coast international Guessand ever since.
And they have been so impressed, Potter and Macaulay have put him at the top of their striker wish-list, believing Guessand has the technical and physical qualities to adapt to the Premier League.
The striker has scored 12 goals and laid on nine assists this season. But pacy and rangy 6ft 2in star Guessand brings a lot more to the team besides, with hold-up and link play belying his age.
Aston Villa are reportedly sniffing around too but guaranteed game time at West Ham and London life would represent big trump cards for the Hammers.
Now Potter needs to get agent Todibo to start a charm offensive – if he hasn’t already.
If the French defender helps give West Ham the edge in signing Guessand, then he really will be paying back his £32m fee and then some.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
