Ma'nage(er) Trois!

Rumours of impending arrivals at West Ham United are rife at the moment given the club's recent Euro Cup success and the fact that there will be a few quid in the Kitty following the inevitable departure of Declan Rice to neighbours Arsenal for a whopping fee.

While there is legitimate interest in UK based players like Harvey Barnes from newly relegated Leicester City and several other Championship players, Hammers will be doing most of their eventual shopping from abroad, with France in particular being the most fertile of areas to but players from.

The reason is quite simply that clubs in France with the exception of PSG and maybe one or two others, are completely brassic. This season the temporary Government assistance they received following the collapse of the BeIn sports broadcasting deal has been withdrawn, meaning clubs don't have a pot to proverbial in!

So rich pickings are available and the 'menu' will have been keenly looked at by Hammers new technical director Tim Steidten who starts officially starts work on Monday but has already got several 'Irons in the fire' (couldn't resist that one!). Steidten's sphere of influence also encompasses Germany which will open a whole new avenue of contacts and players, including the highly sought after Edson Alvarez from Dortmund who would be an ideal Declan Rice replacement.

However it is France where the best deals are to be had where Hammers spending power is sufficient to blow all but the serious big hitters out of the water, there are at least three targets that are known off, quite who will arrive is as yet unknown, but these are exciting times to be a Hammers fan.

Perhaps the club SHOULD HAVE employed Tim Steidten earlier, but where WOULD that have left head of player recruitment Rob Newman?

In fact, with Mark Noble and Tim Steidten involved will Newman jump ship or wait to be pushed? Three is an awkward number to manage where there are realistically only two positions, unless you are French of course! - Ed