Things just got very interesting indeed in the weird and wonderful world of West Ham after links to a £85m star 24 hours after stating the club is broke.
West Ham continue to insist they have reached their PSR limit ahead of the summer transfer window.
It has caused confusion and anger among the Hammers fanbase.
And it’s easy to see why too after West Ham bid a club record £57m for Jhon Duran back in January.
The Hammers are also officially the 17th richest club in world football in terms of income.
West Ham also have the third richest owners in the Premier League.
West Ham plead PSR poverty
The London Stadium’s 62,500 capacity means West Ham are also in UEFA’s elite group ‘the 1 million club’ in terms of attendances.
There were three consecutive seasons in Europe to boost club coffers with West Ham making a semi-final and quarter-final of the Europa League either side of winning the Europa Conference League.
Throw in the fact the club sold Academy graduate Declan Rice for a pure £100m plus profit less than two years ago and it is no wonder many are confused by claims that the cupboards are bear.
Hammers supporters went into meltdown after board confidant Sean Whetstone reported on Claret and Hugh that West Ham will be in breach of Premier League financial fair play rules unless they sell this summer.
Whetstone, who counts majority owner David Sullivan among his close contacts, revealed that means manager Graham Potter will indeed start the summer window with no transfer budget.
If accurate Potter will in fact start from a minus position as the first tranche of £32m to Nice for Jean-Clair Todibo needs to be paid this summer.
But now West Ham are in for a £85m star after being called out on ‘odd’ PSR claims and it might be genius.
Supporters have been accusing the board of falsehoods or negligence.
West Ham in for £85m star after being called out on ‘odd’ PSR claims
Others thing it is a smoke and mirrors strategy designed to ensure West Ham aren’t held to ransom in the transfer market in the forthcoming window, which opens in just over four weeks.
It is abundantly clear Potter needs to perform a major overhaul of the team given the Hammers are 17th in the Premier League.
As part of that at least two strikers will be needed – and they don’t come cheap, as the Hammers found out with their failed pursuit of Duran.
Now, according to Tuesday’s edition of A Bola, West Ham are back in for Vangelis Pavlidis.
Versatile Greek striker Pavlidis is a player Hammers fans will remember from West Ham’s games against AZ Alkmaar on the way to winning a first major trophy for over four decades.
The 26-year-old has been closely monitored by West Ham in the past.
Reports last season claimed Hammers scouts were impressed when watching Pavlidis ahead of an anticipated summer bid.
That never materialised, though, as Tim Steidten and Julen Lopetegui signed Niclas Fullkrug instead.
Pavlidis went to Benfica instead in a £16m deal.
He has been one of the bargains of the season in Europe’s top leagues, scoring 28 goals and laying on 11 assists to help Benfica challenge Sporting for the Portuguese title.
Despite the fact they could have signed him for less than £20m last summer, West Ham are said to head a queue of four clubs who want him one year on.
The problem is, Pavlidis has a £85m release clause.
However, A Bola claims Benfica are worried they may be forced to sell Pavlidis for much less to a Premier League team, citing interest from West Ham and – unsurprisingly given he was Hammers boss when he was first linked – David Moyes at Everton.
Does Pavlidis leak prove Hammers do have cash for signings?
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has called out West Ham over their PSR claims in a Hammers News exclusive.
Maguire says West Ham’s stated financial position ‘seems odd’ and does not tally with his calculations.
So is this leaked interest in Pavlidis the first proof West Ham do have money to spend this summer?
Especially after leading journalist David Ornstein called West Ham’s bluff over their transfer funds and PSR situation.
If so then it could be a genius strategy from the Hammers, who have been fleeced in the market when spending big in previous years.
Fans have also noted that Potter promised West Ham were in for an ‘exciting summer window’ after losing to Wolves earlier this month.
The Hammers boss has since rowed back on that claim a touch, which may suggest he’s been told to tow the party line in order to make West Ham a surprise threat in the summer window.
Whether that is wishful thinking or sleuth fans are right, they don’t have long to wait to find out.
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