West Ham are on the verge of ending their transfer window drought and Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is far from happy about it.
It is football’s worst kept secret that West Ham have been desperately hunting a new striker in the winter window.
After links to a plethora of forwards from across Europe, West Ham’s search has taken them to Celtic for rising star Daniel Cummings.
Sky Sports reported earlier that West Ham are in talks to sign Celtic’s 18-year-old Scottish forward Cummings.
Originally it was claimed the Hammers were trying to agree a pre-contract for a move in the summer.
West Ham’s move emerged out of the blue and was sparked when Bhoys academy product Cummings entered talks with Portsmouth earlier this week.
Macauley effect as West Ham target young Celtic star
It was claimed earlier on Saturday that the Irons are leading the race now, though.
Cummings has been getting restless at a lack of opportunity at Celtic, who have been trying to tie him down to a new deal.
In a clear attempt to show Cummings that Celtic is the right place for him, Brendan Rodgers gave the Scotland U19 international his debut on Wednesday night in the Champions League defeat at Aston Villa.
There have been big developments north of the border this evening, though.
West Ham are on the verge of signing Celtic star Cummings now as Rodgers rages at his agent.
Scottish Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph confirmed reports that West Ham have been in talks to sign Cummings on a pre-contract agreement.
There has been a major development tonight, though.
Twist as West Ham on verge of signing Celtic star now
Because West Ham are now in talks with Celtic about potentially bringing the deal forward so they can sign Cummings in this window, before Monday’s 11pm deadline.
Transfer reporter and podcaster Pete O’Rourke claims West Ham are close to agreeing a pre-contract regardless.
But he states the Hammers are in dialogue with Celtic to sign Cummings now – presumably for a nominal fee given they can get him for nothing in a few months.
The move comes after the arrival of recruitment guru Kyle Macauley at West Ham from Chelsea.
The Hammers paid £1.2m to reunite Macauley with Graham Potter last week.
His impact on targets has been instant with a seismic shift in the profile of player West Ham are going for.
Top young prospects such as Cummings are suddenly appearing on West Ham’s radar.
Much to the chagrin of Rodgers – who is furious with Cummings’ agent.
When the press in Scotland asked Rodgers for an update on the progress of Celtic’s contract talks with the striker, he appeared resigned to losing Cummings to the Hammers.
And Rogers – who was linked with the West Ham job before Julen Lopetegui’s sacking – let rip at the agent, suggesting they are not doing what’s in the best interests of the player.
Rodgers rages at agent of West Ham-bound Cummings
“I always say the same thing, if the young players are good enough and they have the right mentality, there’ll always be an opportunity of playing him,” Rodgers said, as reported by The Celtic Star.
“There’s no update on that (Cummings’ new contract). I’d always say for the young players, I think the challenge here now for young players is patience. They want to be in the first team at 17, 18. But that’s difficult at a club like this here, unless you’re an incredibly special talent.
“But it doesn’t mean that you can never be. I’ve spent my career and my life developing young players, putting them in the team. And some have been ready. Like Raheem Sterling at 17 years of age. He was ready. Physically, mentally, ability, everything. Then there’s been some other players, like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, that need a wee bit more time, and he gets his debut, and then he’s ready a bit later.
“It’s just about time. What young players need to have here is, is understand that there’s a bit of patience needed…
“But if you want to be patient and trust the club, you’ll get there. If you don’t, you might listen to your agent, who’s got a different agenda, that takes you away from here, and then you’ll go somewhere else.
“But there’ll always be chances here for young players. One, if they have the ability. Two, if they have a bit of patience.”
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