Alex McLeish

Wed 2 February 2022 15:22, UK

Alex McLeish has suggested the West Ham board’s “haggling” may have led to a loan for Duvan Zapata falling through on deadline day.

The former Scotland manager, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 29-year-old could have been a “special” signing for the Irons.

A West Ham source told Football Insider on Tuesday (1 February), the club failed with a last-gasp bid to sign Zapata after tabling a loan offer of £5.5million.

The Irons are understood to have submitted a deal sheet to the Premier League on deadline day.

However, the paperwork could not be completed in time.

McLeish worked with the Hammers board during their time at Birmingham City.

He admitted David Sullivan did not like doing business in January and may have left it too late for Zapata.

McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “When I was at Birmingham working with David Sullivan, I always approached the Janaury window and deadline day thinking I’m going to go to bed at nine o’clock because nothing would happen.

“David always felt you wouldn’t get what you want in the window. We left it late at Birmingham so it’s par for the course. I think David generally worked that way.

“I like Zapata, he came on against Manchester United and caused them some problems in the Champions League.

“It could have been somebody special for West Ham. I guess at the end of the day, the ins and outs of getting the transfer over the line is sometimes extremely difficult.

“That’s unless you just say: ‘Oh, well, we don’t care about what money we’re paying, we’re paying it anyway.’

“The negotiation is always, by a lot of Chairman, is always taken to the wire. It’s more a chairman thing, they run the club. The manager would want it done. The chairman like to haggle.”

Zapata has netted 12 times in 22 appearances in all competitions this season.

Michail Antonio is West Ham’s only recognised senior striker at present.

In other news, West Ham move for Liverpool star revealed and pursuit is still alive.