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Potters' side most recently saw an expected rejection from Southampton for Mateus Fernandes, and it's thought that West Ham will now give up on the Portuguese's signature after a quoted price of £60,000,000 for the Portuguese international was made by the Saints.

In search of other targets, we've been sniffing around two others, with seemingly both of our Liverpool targets now out the window. Harvey Elliot is being targeted by Leipzig, and Tyler Morton has already signed for Lyon. Our eyes have now been peeled towards Lille midfielder Ngal'ayel Mukau, with the French side asking for €20,000,000, and the other target being Lorenzo Pellegrini, who's been linked with us multiple times over the past few years.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is now 29 years old, still playing for Roma and is thought to be interested in a move to West Ham should an offer be made. The Italian's pricetag wouldn't total to a significant amount and at most would be around £10,000,000. He provides experience in the attacking aspect of the midfield, but our main issues revolve around defensive and holding midfielders, it's not considered a priority to secure his signature.

Besides, this won't come as a blow to many most likely due to his age, but more importantly, his name brings a few shivers to the spine. Didn't think we'd see Pellegrini return!

It's a blow for Potter to not be able to get his target that he needs, but the quoted price from Southampton simply isn't obtainable for the club; it's incredibly difficult to fathom paying that amount for a player in the Championship.

With the Premier League season starting this week, West Han have really tried to hound in on signing a midfielder or at minimum having an agreement in principle.

The Hammers have finally taken action with a bid officially going in for Mateus Fernandes from Southampton. The bid is around the £30m mark as well as £5m in add ons. Whether this will be enough for Southampton to accept is questionable, but it all comes down to the payment schedule, which, as Sully’s track record will indicate, is bound to be a problem.

We’re also monitoring many other targets. How that ‘monitoring’ is going is another question and a debate for another day, it’s difficult to tell when you’re tracking half the universe!

Graham Potter is seriously urging that he requires a midfielder this window and simply cannot end this transfer window without one. Our initial player exits have now quietened down, but Andy Irving, Guido Rodriguez and Emerson could all still leave in the few weeks remaining.

‘One out one in’ is the motto we’re using for the sake of wages, but it’s difficult to believe so, considering the fans and even Potter feel that we have no midfield in the first place.

Hopefully, some convincing from ex-Southampton players Walker-Peters and Ward-Prowse could persuade the player, but only time will tell for Potter and Macaulay.

West Ham: Areola, Diouf, Wan-Bissaka, Ward-Prowse, Todibo, Aguerd, Kilman, Potts, Bowen (C), Fullkrug, Paqueta
Subs: Fodderingham, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Guilherme, Alvarez, Soucek, Rodriguez, Scarles, Irving, Orford, Awes.
Lille: Bodart, Mandi, Ngoy, Alexsandro, Perraud, Broholm, Mukaku, Andre (C), Felix, Haraldsson, Giroud
Subs: Baret, Bentaleb, Bouaddi, Burlet, Cossier, Diakite, Diaoune, Fernandez-Pardo, Raghouber, Sahraoui, Toure, Sajous

After the good old interest in John, it seems this saga has now officially come to a close with West Ham finalising a deal for Hermansen from Leicester yesterday evening after a breakthrough was agreed for £18,000,000.

It was known that the club had been in limbo for the past few days, playing all the cards and tricks in the book. Poor John was used as a bargaining tool, and since the incident, a close source from Botafogo has said, "West Ham's conduct is nothing short of disgraceful." Which, considering that the club had agreed a fee for the Brazilian, 99% of the time, the deal would end up going through and being finalised, but not with us!

Leaving a player to be left alone at an airport is nothing short of poor from the club, but Hermansen was always Potters and the coaching staff's number one target, and with Macaulay's last-minute persuasion and breakthrough, we managed to capitalise on Leicester's financial troubles and bring in our Herman which pre-season has shown the club so desperately needs with the season beginning in just 7 days time.

Potter has secured his primary target signing this window, and Sullivan has paid the price, tarnishing his reputation in conducting business.

Usually, there's a first time for everything, but this isn't the first time Sullivan has had a problem with a 'John' in the Summer...