There's No Such Thing As A FREE Agent!

The transfer window for the Barclays Premier League opened on the 27th of July and is scheduled to end on the 5th of October, with most clubs strapped for cash as a result of the financial meltdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic many assume there will be bargains to be had, especially for those clubs unfortunate enough to have experienced failure to get promoted as well as those who have been relegated, for whatever reason.

Back in the day, West Ham would be trawling through a huge list of players who have become available on a 'free' transfer, the term free being loosely relative, in actual fact there is always some kind of agent involved and a 'signing on' fee is usually agreed, failing that the 'free' transfer player is offered incredibly lucrative wages in order to 'tempt' them.

It's an old chestnut now, but signing Jack Wilshere was a classic example of a not so free signing! Firstly clubs should surely ask why a player has become available on a free and why didn't his club want to keep him? The Evening Standard published an article recently listing who is available as a 'free' agent, some of the players were very high profile but all except one were 30 years old or over and were on massive salaries, the only exception being 26 year old Ryan Fraser who chose not to renew his contract with Bournemouth who have subsequently been relegated.

Having had their fingers well and truly burnt as a result of signing Wilshere, it is inconceivable that the club would want to take a punt on another expensive FREE transfer, but then again we are talking about West Ham United! - Ed