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.”

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford is reportedly on Blackburn Rovers manager John Eustace’s radar as part of a broader list of potential targets.

While Leeds boss Daniel Farke is primarily focused on preparations for Sunday’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday, he’s likely also keeping an eye on potential transfer activity.

Despite the club’s insistence that January will be a quiet month, there are still a few areas in the squad that may need addressing.

Journalist Alan Nixon shared on his Patreon that Blackburn Rovers are monitoring Bamford for a potential move. The 31-year-old striker, however, is sidelined for the rest of January due to a hamstring injury sustained against Blackburn on New Year’s Day.

Despite this setback, the playoff hopefuls are keen to strengthen their squad as they aim to cement their spot in the top six.

Bamford has had limited impact in the Championship this season, playing just 123 minutes without scoring or assisting. Last season, he netted eight goals, all in the latter half of the campaign.

When asked about the possibility of signing Bamford, Eustace remained tight-lipped but did confirm that the player is being monitored as a potential addition to the squad this month.

He said (via the Lancashire Telegraph):

“Patrick is a very good player, I played with him at Derby, a long time ago when he started out.

“He’s a consistent performer at this level, he plays for a huge club in Leeds. But there will be lots of names thrown towards me and I’ll just say they’re good players.

“You’d have to ask the club. He’s a player on a long list that we have looked at and we’ll have to see.”

Leeds United’s apparent interest in strikers this January could hint at the 49ers’ willingness to part ways with Patrick Bamford.

However, it’s unlikely that Daniel Farke sees it that way, especially with Joe Gelhardt heading out on loan this week. Leeds need greater consistency from their attacking options, and neither Joel Piroe nor Mateo Joseph has been fully delivering on that front.

While Piroe’s 10 goals and five assists are undeniably impressive, his style of play highlights the need for a true focal point up front—a classic number nine that Leeds might look to secure this month.

For Bamford, if a move does happen, it could be the fresh start he needs. His prospects of rediscovering his best form at Elland Road appear slim, making this a potentially ideal time for a change.

Kai Havertz’s wife, Sophia, revealed the abusive messages she received on social media following Arsenal’s loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday.

On Monday, she posted two updates on her Instagram story, including one in which someone threatened to “slaughter” her unborn baby.

Arsenal were eliminated from the cup after losing to United in a penalty shootout. Havertz, the German striker, missed a chance to secure the win at the Emirates Stadium when he fired over from a close range and later had his penalty saved during the shootout.

Sophia Havertz voiced her outrage over the vile abuse she faced after the match.

“For anyone to think it’s okay to write something like this is so shocking to me… I hope you are ashamed of yourself,” she posted.

In response to the threat to her baby, she posted: “I’m not sure what to even say but please guys be more respectful. We are better than this…”

Football authorities and law enforcement have been working to address online abuse directed at players.

Last year, the Football Association of England announced it was allocating approximately £25,000 ($32,000) to support police efforts in tackling such incidents during the European Championship.

During the 2021 Euros, England players Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, and Jadon Sancho faced racial abuse on social media after missing penalties in a shootout loss to Italy in the final.

FIFA, the global governing body, has implemented a Social Media Protection Service (SMPS) to safeguard players, teams, and officials from online harassment by ensuring their social media accounts remain free from hate.

According to SMPS, during the 2023 Women’s World Cup, 20% of the players were targeted with discriminatory, abusive, or threatening messages, with about half of these being anti-gay, sexual, or sexist in nature.