Downe And Out!

Perhaps a degree of realism had descended over West Ham from a fan perspective as well as an overall feeling within the club, one that has punched well above it's weight for the last two and a half seasons and now needs a thorough overhaul even just to keep on the coat tails of the top six let alone the top four!

So news that Swansea midfielder Flynn Downes is due to complete a medical at West Ham in the next 24 hours after the two clubs agreed a fee rising to £12 Million, should come as no surprise and the fact that his signing is being viewed as a potential coup just about sums up the reality of where the club is.

It is understood that the payment will be structured with an initial £9 Million up front for the former Ipswich Town man with a further £3 Million in add ons and performance bonuses. A significant percentage of the fee going to his former club but there will still be enough to represent a substantial profit on the £1 Million that the Swans paid for the midfielder a year ago.

Downes had a n encouraging first season in the Championship as Swansea finished in mid table and it looked as if it would be Crystal Palace who would sign him up after a bid was submitted on the weekend. David Moyes has now seemingly hit the Go button and come in with a strong bid for the player who is a boyhood West Ham fan which will could swing the signing to East instead of South East London.

Making the move to potentially become a replacement for Mark Noble, Downes could become a fan's favourite. He looks as if he can take the move up to the Premier League in his stride, especially if he gets to learn his trade next to Declan Rice while the much coveted England International remains at the club.
A Forward, a left back and a utility player are still a must as well as REPLACING the departed Yarmolenko's left wing role in addition to 'upgrading' Authur Masuaku, again on the left flank. So it can be argued that the left side of the club is currently 'creaking' and is the area most in need of attention.

Perhaps actually bringing in players who WANT to come, albeit from the lower league's is not necessarily a bad thing, for one it is an area of buying that newly minted Newcastle aren't currently looking to exploit as they need players with an instant 'rush' for their fans and their new 'Stoners'.

The vast majority of fans will be happy with steady progress and REAL deals done, in private, maybe not 'Marquee' signings but not the usually leaky tents that fans ended up with for year after years, too damp even for the smoke and mirrors eventually!

Signing Downes may not be the solution to the herds of Elephants in the room, he will go a small way to relieve a bit of 'signing blood lust', although it should be remembered that a certain Jack Wilshere was also a Hammers fan. - Ed