Irons Success Comes At A Price

Life is full of compromises and sometimes it is better to compromise rather than be compromised. West Ham have had a best start equalising run so far this season and their performances have attracted 'unwanted' attention from clubs around the globe, none more so than the free spending Saudi Pro League.

Al-Ittlhad are the latest club from the Pro League to show a keen interest in Hammers players and are actively looking to push through a 'couple of deals' before their transfer window closes. Players can still move there from the Premier League, but not vice versa.

Nayef Aguerd AND Big Mikey Antonio are apparently still being sought with Al-Ittlhad leading the line to acquire the services of Both players, a combined offer in excess of €40 Million has been mooted and individual wage offers that double each of the players' salaries.

Antonio seems to have nailed his colours to the mast as to where he wants to be, anyone who needed convincing merely has to look at his performances for the Irons in the opening games of the season so far! Nayef Aguerd is a slightly different situation because of his Arabic background, he would possibly find it easier to adapt to the culture in Saudi than others and COULD be attracted to a decent offer.

Somehow though, one gets the feeling that Aguerd is really enjoying his time at the club and is looking forward to another European adventure alongside players he has got to know well during the last season. At 27 years of age the Moroccan International can easily afford to play another couple of seasons in the best League in the World before accepting a fat pay cheque for a few years before retiring and having a wonderful life!

There are those that begrudge the Saudi Pro League for its 'interference' with the European leagues, particularly the Premier League. There is resentment regarding the huge sums they can afford to pay and a lack of FFP, well if you look closely at the Emblem and Flag of Al-Ittlhad you will notice they were established in 1927. They have every much a right as anyone else to 'splash their cash' in order to get better Global recognition, why shouldn't they give it a go?

Before Al-Ittlhad and the other teams from the Pro League could compete in Global Club competitions they would have to conform to FIFA FFP rules so what is the problem? We have no issues with them at all, UNLESS they knap Big Mikey and Aguerd in the coming week! - Ed

Comments

people in glass houses Nev

The prem has been the dominant force in world football and if we want a player we get them because we are the biggest and best and can pay way more than those other well established leagues in the world....Now the Saudis in town the leagues not great but they can afford huge wages that pale into insignificance anywhere else in the world and some players will be more than tempted and who can blame them....selling there souls for cash is the cry but players been doing that forever its just now the prem have real competition and i suspect like the Chinese league once its calmed down and the wages on offer not as much as right now things will settle down until then it looks like the prem clubs getting a dose of there own medicine.

The only problem I have is

The only problem I have is the extra week ,transfer window if they had come in 2 weeks ago ,we could have replaced with better players, im surprised benny hasn't been mentioned, as it is we have only replaced outgoing players ,4 in 4 out..