Maybe David Ornstein is right as David Sullivan gives West Ham a sudden boost in their pursuit of a marquee signing this summer.
Perhaps West Ham are playing a game of brinkmanship after all.
All Hammers fans have heard from club insiders for the last few months is that the money well has run dry.
It has been story after story that West Ham’s cupboards are bare, the coffers are empty and – in the club’s own words – ‘the finances are a mess’.
From the outside there has been plenty of evidence supporting that narrative.
West Ham doing a £69m deal with Barclays means they have used all transfer money owed to them.
The Hammers’ hierarchy has also braced fans for £80m losses in the next accounts.
Supporters have been warned to expect belt-tightening to adhere to PSR.
Hammers red herring over transfer funds?
West Ham even brought forward season ticket renewals by two months – to this month – in a desperate bid to raise some cash.
The financial situation has confused supporters given that the three most influential people on West Ham’s board are savvy business minds.
Billionaire majority owner David Sullivan is no fool when it comes to finances.
Neither is vice-chair Karren Brady.
And the club’s second biggest stakeholder, Daniel Kretinsky, has doubled his net worth to £13bn since buying into West Ham. So his record speaks for itself.
So when journalist David Ornstein called West Ham out over a transfer funds red herring, it would have been music to the ears of fans and manager Graham Potter.
West Ham get sudden boost for marquee signing
Because make no mistake West Ham face a pivotal summer window with another overhaul needed.
West Ham do plan to raise over £100m in sales.
That money will go to Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macualey to revamp the squad.
And it seems a big chunk of it has been ringfenced for one player in particular.
Now West Ham have received a sudden boost for a marquee signing after Sullivan’s ‘irresistible’ offer.
The free agent market will be particularly attractive to the Irons this summer.
Striker Jonathan David is undoubtedly one of the best players out of contract in three months’ time.
Potter told Sullivan that David can transform West Ham when he was appointed in January.
Canada striker David is out of contract at Lille in June and won’t be signing a new deal.
The 25-year-old, who has now scored 176 goals for club and country in his career so far, will definitely be leaving France and West Ham have a longstanding interest.
West Ham actually confirmed their interest in David in January.
Sullivan’s ‘irresistible’ David offer amid Barca doubts
Supporters were angry after it was recently claimed David Moyes turned down signing David for just £20m in the summer of 2023.
The Athletic’s West Ham reporter Roshane Thomas this month confirmed David is among the ‘many striker options the club have lined up’.
Potter is determined and convinced West Ham can sign David despite the interest of his dream club Barcelona and a host of others.
The versatile forward’s agent is based in London and has been a guest in West Ham’s director’s box at recent games.
Potter was hit with a major blow when top Hammers insider Sean Whetstone made a big claim earlier this month.
He revealed a source close to the player’s agent said West Ham have ‘no chance’ of signing David this summer.
But the landscape may have changed significantly.
Hammers clearly serious about backing Potter
Just as Ornstein said, Sullivan clearly intends to back Potter.
And Diario Sport in Spain is claiming David refuses to wait much longer for financially struggling Barcelona to make him an offer after West Ham slapped a huge package on the table.
The report goes on to state that the reason for Barca’s failure to make an offer is because there is ‘no consensus’ at the club over a move for David.
Diario’s Deputy Director of Sport Lluis Miguelsanz, claims Barcelona have been evaluating David for over a year.
But he says the lack of a consensus and the emergence of Ferran Torres as the team’s clear second centre forward looks to have ‘closed the door on David at Camp Nou’.
Miguelsanz has also claimed David and his entourage are aware of what’s happening and have set Barcelona a deadline of the end of April.
If that passes without an offer then it is claimed David will seriously consider West Ham’s ‘irresistible’ package.
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