Forum | General Discussion

Edimilson Fernandes has joined German Bundesliga club 1. FSV Mainz on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee, the reason the fee is undisclosed is confusing to most people, in essence by stating the fee is undisclosed both selling and buying club are free to structure the payments in order to harmonise with their fiscal declarations, this form of 'secrecy' is very common, particularly in Europe.

The Switzerland midfielder departs West Ham United after three years in east London, having joined the Hammers from Swiss club Sion in August 2016. Fernandes totalled 48 first-team appearances across his first two seasons at London Stadium, scoring a goal in an EFL Cup win over Chelsea in October 2016, the 23-year-old spent the 2018/19 campaign on loan at Italian Serie A club Fiorentina.

The 'undisclosed fee' of around £8 Million is not very high considering Edimilson's age, but what is done is done. The alarming aspect of Fernandes's departure is that his sale was necessary in order to balance the books and make funds available for player acquisitions, however the savings of getting Fernandes off the books pale in to insignificance when compared with how much Javier Hernández has cost and is continuing to the club.

Hernández's wages alone could pay for three players, and that is before allowing for the huge loss the club will make even if they are able to sell on the 31 year old Mexican. Much has been said recently about the catastrophic costs associated with the long running Andy Carroll injury plague, but 'Chicharito' has cost even more pro rata than the big geordie! Signed on 24 July 2017 for £17 Million, Hernández was given a three year contract at an eye watering £140,000 per week, someone must surely have been at their 'pipe' to have sanctioned such a deal!

It is highly unlikely that West Ham will recoup even half of Hernández's original cost, but even assuming there is a team that is unwise enough to pay £10 Million, the numbers make appalling reading, Chicharito has cost, if you assume a £7 Million loss on his transfer, an astonishing £406,000 per game and £1,437,335 per goal! Those figures are 'Carrollesque', no club outside the top four can afford exorbitant costs like Hernandez, the club should be concentrating on getting him out the door as a matter of urgency! - Ed

Rarely does a Hammers transfer target had such an apt name, as the club are closing in on signing Greece midfielder Kostas Fortounis from Olympiakos. The 26 year old can play as a centre back or in midfield and stands 6'2" tall, so he won't get intimidated. The price being talked about is around £16 Million, not cheap but relatively inexpensive in today's insanely inflated market, so he won't 'cost a fortune'!
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West Ham's pursuit of Barcelona star Andre Gomes, who was on loan at Everton for a year, is all but over as it is increasingly apparent he will be far too expensive for the club,but Fortounis is within the club's price range and a player highly recommended by sporting director Mario Husillos. Husillos worked with Fortounis briefly at Olympiakos, with the midfielder already an established international.

Fortounis has been a regular in the last five years with Olympiakos after a spell in Germany with FC Kaiserslauter, Husillos has obviously identified the need for a player equally adept as part of the back line or in midfield if required, it seems the penny has finally dropped with Manuel Pellegrini and Mario Husillos with them realising they made an enormous 'ricket' by signing Jack Wilshere, they won't admit it to the press, but they know Jack was their only cock up in what was otherwise a superb season of recruitment!

The pragmatic approach of Pellegrini and Husillos is to be admired, far better to recognise a problem that is going to continue rather than ignoring it, a 'head in the sand' attitude was adopted far too often in the past by those in control of player acquisitions, those decisions cost the club dear, it is to be hoped lessons really have been learned, you never know, perhaps Olympiakos will take Jack Wilshere as part of the deal? Well, hope springs eternal. - Ed

Hammers have neatly arranged a 'spanish take over' as back up between the sticks, Roberto, 33, will join them on a two-year contract on July 1, once his deal with La Liga club Espanyol expires, he will replace Adrian San Miguel. Many, many Hammers fans will be sad to see Adrian leave the club, and rightly so, he was a stalwart as custodian but was usurped by Lukasz Fabianski.

Essentially Adrian is too good to be a back up keeper, he bided his time this season hoping that Fabianski would have a bad performance or loss of form, alas it was not to be. Having already had to 'see' off Darren Randolph and Joe Cole, Adrian had hoped to cement his position, but along came Fabianski who was just that little bit better, and that'little bit' can mean the difference between defeat and victory in the unforgiving 'battlefield' that is the Barclays Premier League.

Roberto is well known to Mario Husillos, Hammers head of recruitment, and is willing to play cup games and be available should Fabianski get injured, have a loss of form or get suspended. Roberto's arrival will be the cue for Hammers young England keeper, 20 year old Nathan Trott to go out on loan to a championship side in order to continue his development in to the superb keeper he is destined to be. - Ed