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We've been here before haven't we? As news that West Ham United are launching legal action against the Sporting Lisbon director who called co-chairman David Sullivan a “liar” and a “parasite” following the 'Wild' Willy C failed transfer, those of a sceptical persuasion might see the targeting of Nuno Saraiva, Sporting’s director of communications, who claimed Hammers had not made a formal written offer to sign the midfielder William Carvalho, as a 'slight of hand' from a PR point of view.

Smoke and mirrors?

It should be remembered that the back ground to this unsuccessful but ambitious bid was what seemed to have been a relatively good recruitment of players during the window, the news that West Ham were bidding for Carvalho was the icing on the cake,however this icing did come with a caveat! Having leaked a plethora of goals in the first three Premier League fixtures urgent attention was given to the midfield as the co-owners and their current manager finally realised that dear old Mark Noble's legs have gone, great servant that he has been, he has now become a liability whose lack of pace opposing teams will target more and more.

Hidden Agenda?
According to sunbets.co.uk Roberto Mancini has emerged as a front runner to replace Slaven Bilic as West Ham manager, should results not improve significantly.

David Sullivan has described Saraiva’s allegations as “nonsense” and is now taking legal proceedings, claiming his reputation has been damaged by a potential libel. A letter is being sent to Saraiva. West Ham also say they have an email showing that they did, indeed, on Aug 10, contact Sporting and their president Bruno de Carvalho to make an offer for William Carvalho which amounted to a minimum €25million (£23million), to be paid over three years, with additional terms and bonuses “to be discussed”. Negotiations dragged on, through agents, throughout August with Sporting apparently refusing to budge on their higher valuation for the Portuguese international who, it is understood, wanted to join West Ham and is upset that he did not make the move. Carvalho was manager Slaven Bilic’s number one target to be West Ham’s holding midfielder.
David Sullivan had told West Ham’s official website on Friday that Sporting had then contacted him on transfer deadline day, Thursday, to say they would accept a club record bid for midfielder Carvalho, after all.

Saraiva, however, responded, on Saturday claiming: (dodgy portugese to english translation of face book rant) “David Sullivan is lying. Sporting Clube de Portugal, as its chairman has already said, has received no offer for the player William Carvalho.” Saraiva also made derogatory remarks about Sullivan, and how he made his money through the adult entertainment business, and said he needed to provide proof backing up his claim that a bid had been made.
“David Sullivan has the duty of proving what he said,” Saraiva went on. “Sporting Clube de Portugal is challenging him to publish the proposals that he said were made, as well as the proof that Sporting CP received them. "One thing is clear: Sporting CP, as we have said, does not cut the legs off its players. But we have nothing to do with the behaviour of businessmen or family members who live off the players and who go around offering them from club to club at bargain basement prices, without any mandate, as if they were cheap supermarket produce. It devalues players, it devalues the club, and it creates unfortunate situations like this one, which has forced Sporting Club to take drastic measures to defend itself from these characters who live off some players like parasites."

Sullivan has reacted furiously. "We made bids through the agents acting for us,” he said, while an email was also sent directly to the president. Sullivan also spoke to Sporting last Thursday. “To say we never bid is utter nonsense!”

While this has all been going on, Roberto Mancini has emerged as a front runner to replace Slaven Bilic should results not improve significantly, the Zenit St Petersburg boss is second favourite behind Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez to take over at the London Stadium should Billic get the chop. The Croat, in the final year of his contract, is under increasing pressure following three successive Premier League defeats - all away from home while the London Stadium is re-configured following the World Athletics Championships - and another loss, against Huddersfield in a week’s time, would only increase the speculation.

Rafa left the club in the lurch when he chose to go to his ultimately unsuccessful spell as manager of Real Madrid.

Benitez is said to be unhappy about Newcastle’s failure to land his chosen targets during the transfer window and West Ham would need to pay £5million compensation to land him, alternatively if it has been decided that a new man, is required, former Manchester City boss Mancini who was linked with West Ham last season when Bilic found himself under pressure following a run of poor results, and the Italian was spotted at a West Ham match, the board eventually decided to persevere with Bilic and could do so again if their results improve.

Billic's position has not been helped by David Sullivan revealing that his manager had turned down Grzegorz Krychowiak, who went to West Brom on loan from PSG, and Renato Sanches, who joined Swansea in what was seen a something of a coup from Bayern Munich for the season, is Billic being. - Ed