A ridiculous new Terem Moffi West Ham transfer claim makes absolutely no sense whatsoever after the failed January move.
If you thought you had heard the end of the Moffi saga, think again West Ham fans.
West Ham tried to sign Nigerian striker Moffi from Lorient in the transfer window but lost out to Nice.
Despite a £20m plus offer from West Ham, Lorient took the player’s wishes to join Nice over the Hammers into consideration.
And that led to the somewhat surprising late twist in the deal which saw Moffi loaned out with an obligation to buy.
West Ham supporters were excited at the prospect of signing the 23-year-old who they felt had the pace, strength and athleticism the team has been sorely lacking.
David Moyes did sign Danny Ings last month but the club were still interested in bringing Moffi to the London Stadium.
Ings proved to be the only arrival for the first team in the January window and was sidelined less than 24 hours after being unveiled by West Ham.
A good finisher, Ings will no doubt bring a ruthlessness West Ham have been missing once he gets a place in the side. But supporters hoped the club would make a signing like Moffi for the longer term too.
It was not to be, though.
Lorient’s president criticised Nice’s behaviour in the Moffi deal and admitted they had wanted to sell the striker to West Ham.
But a ridiculous new Moffi West Ham transfer claim makes absolutely no sense whatsoever after the failed January move.
Football Insider has bizarrely claimed West Ham – and relegation rivals Southampton – remain in touch with Moffi’s agent in the hope of a summer move.
That might make sense had Lorient’s deal with Nice been a loan with an option to buy.
But it wasn’t. It was a loan with an obligation to buy – which is effectively a way of putting off spending the money now and deferring the start of the transfer payments until the summer.
It is a binding contractual agreement. And the only way West Ham would be in with a shout of signing Moffi in the summer is if Nice decide to sell him on straight away.
That is highly unlikely and the player himself has already made clear Nice is where he wants to be.
Moffi has started both of Nice’s games since he joined the club and although he has not scored he has helped his side to 3-1 and 3-0 wins over Marseille and Ajaccio respectively.