West Ham disaster on deadline day as journalist David Ornstein delivers gutting Darwin Nunez transfer update.
The Hammers raised eyebrows over the weekend with a number of £50m plus bids for players.
Some of those eyebrows were raised in a cynical manner by West Ham’s own fans, many of whom question the intent behind the bids.
Those cynics suggest West Ham have submitted bids for players they effectively know have little chance of being accepted.
The theory being the club can turn around to disgruntled supporters and claim they tried everything to get players signed.
On the other hand David Moyes himself has admitted it has been a very difficult window to get deals done.
And beyond the likes of Aston Villa and Barcelona the evidence is there to support that claim.
West Ham fans are desperate to see the club sign a striker with a host of forwards linked this month.
One of those came out of the blue on Sunday when West Ham were said to have had a bid accepted by Benfica for Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez.
YouTube views on Darwin’s highlights reel suddenly shot up last night as Hammers fans looked to find out more about the potential deadline day arrival.
West Ham disaster on deadline day as David Ornstein delivers gutting Darwin Nunez transfer update
But it looks set to be another striker disaster on deadline day for West Ham.
That’s after Athletic journalist David Ornstein delivered a gutting update on the move for Nunez, saying the striker has rejected a move to east London.
“West Ham also enquired about Benfica’s Darwin Nunez, but sources have told The Athletic that the player was not interested in the move and is hopeful of joining a Champions League club in the summer,” Ornstein said in his Athletic deadline day morning update.
West Ham may well of course be a “Champions League club” come the summer.
If the journalist’s claims are accurate, though, it is sure to – once again – call into question how West Ham approach big transfer deals.
Surely the club would have sounded the player out via intermediaries to get an idea as to whether he would be interested should they submit a bid to his club?
Similarly, most buying clubs go to a selling club and get a good idea of what price they could meet at before going back and forth haggling.
All eyes now then will surely turn to Stade Reims forward Hugo Ekitike, who has been linked with both West Ham and Newcastle.
More West Ham news:
West Ham look set to miss out on exciting target as Liverpool swoop.
West Ham in last gasp move for left-back but Newcastle are a problem again.
Guardian journalist’s ominous warning to Leeds over West Ham’s Phillips pursuit.