David Sullivan has regained control of West Ham’s transfer dealings this January, and many fans are already noticing the shift.
Frustrated with how Tim Steidten and Julen Lopetegui spent £155m in the summer, Sullivan, the majority owner, has taken back full control of signings.
While it was always Sullivan and the board who had the final say on deals suggested by Steidten, Lopetegui, and David Moyes, Sullivan made it clear that he is now in charge once again, with input from Steidten and the manager.
This move has divided opinion among West Ham supporters, especially with some of the players the club is reportedly targeting.
While Sullivan’s return to the transfer scene invites potential criticism, it’s worth noting that he was responsible for securing one of the summer’s standout signings, Crysencio Summerville.
The Dutch winger has impressed fans with his exciting performances, and at just 22, he fits the profile of the type of player many expected West Ham to build around. Best of all, the Hammers managed to sign Summerville for a reasonable £26m.
Now, Sullivan will be judged on what he accomplishes in this window. The top priorities are bringing in a striker and a midfielder, with a potential need for a defender depending on the status of Jean-Clair Todibo’s abductor injury.
Over the past week, there’s been a noticeable increase in the number of strikers linked with the club, prompting some cynics to claim that Sullivan is resorting to a “scattergun approach.”
Ultimately, West Ham’s success this month will come down to who they manage to sign, not the noise surrounding it. Heading into January, the club’s owners made it clear that West Ham is nearing its PSR limit and would need to sell players in order to buy.
This has led to an increased focus on loan moves, with many reports indicating that West Ham is looking to strengthen without exceeding financial constraints.
“We are up to our FFP maximum,” the senior London Stadium contact told Hammers News.
“So unless we increase income or move players there is very little room to do much.
“But never say never.”
Several players, including Edson Alvarez, Vladimir Coufal, Guido Rodriguez, and others, have been linked with moves away from West Ham. Niclas Fullkrug was also rumored to be on his way out until a hamstring injury sidelined him for the next three months.
Against this backdrop, fans were surprised by transfer news that surfaced yesterday.
David Sullivan has found himself in a tough spot after a major West Ham transfer leak. Football correspondent Graeme Bailey revealed that West Ham had made a fresh £40m bid for Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran.
However, Bailey later informed Hammers News that West Ham’s offer was rejected, as Villa is asking for between £65-70m to even consider selling the Colombian forward.
This asking price is £30m more than what West Ham could have secured Duran for in the summer before Tim Steidten opted to allocate funds for other signings, including Fullkrug and Luis Guilherme.
Interestingly, Bailey also mentioned that Duran himself would be open to a move, as he is eager to secure a first-choice role.
Since news of the Duran bid broke, Sullivan has confirmed the move to Claret and Hugh.
“We’ve tried, but PSG and a few foreign clubs have outbid us,” the site was told.
“We never mention to supporters failed bids as it frustrates them.”
