Forum | Non-Football Related

Confusing reports are emanating from our old 'fleecer' Manuel Pellegrini's new club Real Betis, apparently Hammers are 'interested' in bringing Real's Aissa Mandi to the London Stadium from Spain. The 60-capped Algeria international has been heavily linked with a move to Villarreal this summer on a free transfer but as yet, nothing has been confirmed. The 29-year-old was valued at around £9 million recently, but is set to leave Betis for nothing this summer, as the centre-back has failed to agree terms on his new deal.

Meanwhile back in the UK, Fabian Balbuena, AKA 'The General' looks set to be travelling in the opposite direction, to Real Betis to link up with his former manager Pellegrini. While these events are not extraordinary in particular, it does beggar the question, why?

Ok, 'Mandi' looks to be a decent player, but is he that much better than Balbuena? We doubt it, it seems as if the General is departing because 'his face doesn't fit', an unpleasant aspect of having been directly associated with Pellegrini. One by one Pellegrini's acquisitions are being shown the door by David Moyes, only Issa Diop, Pablo Fornals and Lukasz Fabianski remain at the club, although Pellegrini's other profligacy Felipe Anderson is due to return from his spectacularly poor loan spell at Porto, which saw his value plummet even further!

Signing Mandi for no transfer fee would, on the face of it, undoubtedly appeal to Moyes and the board, however it does seem like 'much ado about nothing', replacing a like for like centre back. Perhaps David Moyes has a 'cunning plan' in mind and Mandi fits the bill, although it should be remembered that Winston Reid is still on the clubs books for a further TWO years!

David Moyes has already stated that he would like to conclude the club's business BEFORE the Euro's, well, he doesn't have much time left does he? Getting Mandi in would be a start, but a slightly inauspicious one considering the squad's urgent requirements, it is to be hoped that Hammers can at least bring one or two in sooner rather than later, not just replace like for like. - Ed

The exact amount of money available to Barclays Premier League managers is always a matter of smoke and mirrors for most clubs, with no one wanting to show their hand too clearly. West Ham have definitely been in that category for years, there have been some ridiculous 'attempts' at signing players at 'low ball' prices to boot!

So news of David Moyes's supposed £85 Million budget will be greeted with a combination of scepticism and disdain, scepticism that Moyes won't eventually get the full amount, and disdain that his kitty will be so sparse, especially on the back of the club achieving it's highest ever top level points, AND qualifying for the group stages of the Europa Cup, a competition that neither of Hammers London rivals, 'Tottingham' and 'Le'Arse', managed to qualify for, with the Cocks squeezing in to the 'Con Cup', and the Arse not even making that, although there is some conjecture that Arsenal were more than happy NOT to qualify for what is essentially the Inter Toto Cup but with a different name.

So, IF David Moyes does actually get access to the rumoured £85 Million, how will he spend it? Firstly we need to look at what the manager needs, and what he wants, and who he can realistically get. The glaringly obvious top of the list is at least one striker, preferably two, or even three! Next up a combative midfielder, followed by a marauding left back and a replacement goal keeper, although that is the one position where the club could possibly hold fire on.

Although Hammers have been linked with just about every striker with a pulse, and some without, Moyes is more than likely to look domestically to fill such a vital role. Blackburn Rovers Adam Armstrong available for £10 Million seems an ideal fit and wouldn't mess with th wonderful team spirit there is at the club. Alex Kral is the preferred choice as the midfield enforcer in order to add strength in depth, he will cost in the region of £18 Million. The left back situation can be dealt with by signing the exciting talent that Junior Firpo is, he fits Moyes's template perfectly and is available form Barcelona for around £13 Million.

The goal keeping situation is a contentious issue, Lukasz Fabianski has begun to pick up more and more injuries, but he is still one of the best goal keepers in the Barclays Premier League, however West Ham have been kept in the loop regarding Sam Johnstone from newly relegated West Brom, he won't come cheap though, especially as he has been called up to the England squad, he will probably cost in the region of £18 Million.

The outlay for all of the players listed is approximately £59 Million, which would leave David Moyes a further £26 million, IF the £85 Million budget is to be believed. That would leave enough money in the kitty for the additional 'high profile' striker.

Financially Moyes can expect between little and zero when it comes to off loading some of Hammers dead wood, just getting some of their ridiculous wages off the books will be an achievement in itself! After next season the club will no longer be saddled with 'Pellegrini's perils', allowing the Scot, who is in the middle of signing his new three year deal, to work without both hands tied behind his back.

It is to be hoped that the board grab this once in a lifetime opportunity to propel the club to the level they always promised they would, and IF they back their manager fully, they might even grow in the popularity stakes with the fans! - Ed

Jesse lingard's omission from Gareth Southgate's England squad assembled to play the delayed Euro's starting on the 13th of June, will have a knock on effect in many ways, not all of which are bad for West Ham. Lingard's stock and value sky rocketed following his loan deal to West Ham from Manchester united, such was his stunning form that he was included in Southgate's England squad for the first time since the 2018 World Cup.

However, for reasons known only to himself, the England manager has chosen to 'cut' Jesse Lingard from his provisional squad, electing to choose his midfield from Mason Mount (Chelsea), Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund) and Kalvin Phillips from Leeds.

Now the above named players, including Hammers' Declan Rice, are a formidable array of talent, so Jese Lingard's omission kind of makes sense, however the 28 year old will be mightily disappointed not to have made the final cut, but it is the mark of the man that he has chosen to stay on and play the pre-tournament friendlies despite knowing he will not participate in the 'proper' games.

'Southgate's Snub Could Scupper Man Utd's Plans"

For West Ham the situation is a jewel edged sword, the club were proud of giving Lingard the platform for his International recall, but that meant signing him on a permanent basis had started to look less and less likely. Now though, Southgate's snub has altered the potential transfer's trajectory, Manchester United were hoping to start a bidding war for their player who will shortly be entering the last year of his contract, this situation occurred because United exercised their option to extend Lingard's contract by a further year in order to protect their investment, they cannot extend any further.

What this all means is that signing Lingard permanently is now realistically possible, of course other clubs will be interested, but the end price will be an awful lot lower that if the player had been to the Euro's and played a blinder. As it is, Jesse gets to have a brief moment in the spotlight, ahead of a well deserved break, although his season didn't start in earnest until January.

David Moyes is keen to bring his 'surrogate son' back to the London Stadium, the squad already call Jesse Moyes's teacher's pet, and so long as the fee can be kept at a reasonable level, the odds for Lingard returning as a 'proper' Hammer will increase exponentially.

If however United play hard ball, Moyes is unlikely to go down the route they want, and will reluctantly turn his attention to other more easily attainable players instead, being held to ransom is NOT part of Moyes's new recruitment plan. Classic examples of managers paying over the odds for players litter the Barclays Premier League, Manuel Pellegrini at West Ham for example, and more recently Carlo Ancelotti at Everton who has left the Toffees with an unbalanced and bloated squad as a result of him paying 'top dollar' for his acquisitions.

Hammers need Jesse Lingard probably in equal measure as he needs the club, of course agents and intermediaries will have their final say, but at least the option to bring Lingard to the London Stadium is once more a goer. - Ed

According to various sources, West Ham are well on their way to their first major signing of the summer as they pursue a deal that will bring 'hot property' Alex Kral to the London Stadium, in fact some reports go as far as to say that the player has already agreed personal terms with West Ham United ahead of his anticipated move from Spartak Moscow.

Of course as with any significant transfer, there is the jeopardy of other clubs hijacking the deal, or that the financial arrangements do not suit ALL parties involved. Hammers' lack of resources are an open secret, as is the club's desperate need for reinforcements.

One particular fly in the ointment is the funding issue, the club needs to somehow acquire a centre forward, a midfielder ie: Kral, a full back, a back up striker and an additional centre back as, bare minimum. Lukasz Fabianski's role as main keeper might also have to be addressed due to his increasing injuries, but NOT because of a lack of form.

West Ham are pushing hard to get the deal concluded for Kral BEFORE this summer’s Euros next month, that’s according to the Czech star’s agent Karol Kisel, who also represents Vladimir Coufal. However word has reached us that West Ham are attempting to use Andriy Yarmolenko as a make weight in the deal.

Sky Sports backed up Kisel’s claims that West Ham have made contact with him over a potential £14 Million move from Spartak, but were sparse with their details of the proposed deal. Hammers have offered 'Yarmo' as part exchange for the Czech International, and are seeking an eye watering £7 Million for his services!

Furthermore, there is the not so slight problem of moving Yarmolenko on due to his staggering £115,000 per week wages. Why would Spartak want to swap a 23 year old with an enormous future ahead of him for an ageing injury prone highly paid player? Even if Yarmo is only a small part of the package, who ever dreamt it up either needs a pat on the back, or pushing off a cliff!

Obviously West Ham have to cut their cloth according to their means during the summer window, but for once won't have to pretend they are trying to sign players that they have no realistic hope of actually signing, just in order to push up season ticket sales.

The club's actions in the transfer market, both acquisitions and releases will dictate not just next season, but the seasons beyond, it is up to the Board to work out where they really want to be. - Ed