West Ham have last laugh after Nottingham Forest thought they’d outdone them for star

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West Ham are set to have the last laugh after Nottingham Forest thought they’d outdone them for a top star.

West Ham and Nottingham Forest have shared plenty of columns inches during this summer transfer window so far.

Given the sticky financial situation Nottingham Forest have found themselves in regarding PSR rules, West Ham were perhaps not expecting to be competing with the City Ground side for players.

The Hammers and Forest both continue to be very active in the transfer market looking for signings.

West Ham have brought in three thus far and want eight overall as part of Julen Lopetegui’s big rebuild.

Forest have also been busy, signing Elliot Anderson, Marko Stamenic, Eric da Silva Moreira and Carlos Miguel.

The latter is a 6ft 8in Brazilian goalkeeper who West Ham were linked with until Nottingham Forest swooped to seal a deal with Corinthians.

Nottingham Forest were also been linked with top Hammers targets Wesley Gassova and Vitao. Although nothing has come of those yet for either club.

Two of the key positions West Ham are looking to strengthen is left-sided attacker and centre-back.

There was shock among Hammers fans recently when Forest swooped to sign West Ham’s longstanding defensive target Nikola Milenkovic.

Forest swoop for another Hammers target

And for a bargain £13m to rub salt in the wound.

So when news emerged that Nottingham Forest had come out of nowhere to seal a deal for top Tim Steidten target Jota Silva some West Ham supporters were incredulous.

To make matters worse it has emerged Forest are paying just £5m with a potential extra £5m in add-ons.

West Ham have been linked with Silva all summer long. The Portuguese attacker had looked nailed on to join the Irons in a £17.5m deal.

Fabrizio Romano gave the deal his trademark ‘here we go’ yesterday, saying Silva has flown to England for his medical.

“Jota Silva to Nottingham Forest, here we go confirmed!” Romano said.

“Verbal agreement in place with Vitoria for €7m (£5m) fixed fee, €3m (£2.5m) add-ons if he plays 15 games, €3m (£2.5m) add-ons if he scores 10 goals.

“He’s travelling to have medical at Nottingham Forest right now.”

With West Ham seemingly struggling to get deals done since signing Max Kilman over three weeks ago, the Jota Silva news did not go down well.

‘What are we doing’ was the common question among Hammers fans on social media.

Forest fans, as you would expect, were revelling in the news they’d ‘beaten’ West Ham to the 25-year-old.

But West Ham have had the last laugh after Nottingham Forest thought they’d outdone them for a top star.

West Ham have last laugh over Forest

Because the Hammers’ coveted technical director Steidten has pulled off another masterstroke.

The German is the master of distraction tactics in the transfer window.

He used them expertly to get Mohammed Kudus to West Ham last summer.

Now he’s done it again. Because while West Ham were prompting the likes of Nottingham Forest to look at and take a gamble on Silva, he was working on something far more impressive.

In the background Steidten has agreed a brilliant £25m deal with Leeds United for the best player in the Championship – Crysencio Summerville.

The 22-year-old flying Dutchman is having his medical with the Hammers today.

The move has caught the eye across football given how highly rated Summerville is and the price.

West Ham, as they have been doing with all their deals, had multiple targets out there in the public domain.

Another Steidten masterclass

But realistically Silva was never a serious West Ham target, only a back-up plan.

West Ham have now got their prime target for that left-sided attacking role in Summerville.

That will be the real reason Silva is now on the verge of joining Forest having waited to see whether the Hammers would be making a move for him.

There’s no doubt Nottingham Forest have got themselves a talented player with potential.

But Summerville is a far superior and younger player who is a bargain at even double the price Forest are paying for Silva.

Great business for both clubs but West Ham look to have played another blinder here.

Summerville is expected to join in the next 24 hours before heading out to the US to meet his new manager and teammates.

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