West Ham’s transfer plan is all wrong – ‘I’d be questioning the manager and sporting director’
West Ham United’s transfer strategy for the upcoming January window has been questioned, with the club at risk of relegation.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side sit 18th in the Premier League after 11 games of the new season, level on points with 17th-placed Burnley.
When the January window reopens, West Ham are reportedly set to explore the Brazilian market in order to reinforce their squad.
The Serie A season in Brazil ends in December, meaning that it may be easier for the Hammers to sign players from the South American country.
West Ham must prioritise experience
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that West Ham should avoid bringing in “Brazilian flair players” to help their survival efforts.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that he would be questioning the manager and sporting director over their transfer plans if he were in charge of the Hammers.
West Ham have previous experience in the Brazilian market, but it is less than successful, with Luis Guilherme failing to settle since his move from Palmeiras last summer.
Wyness added that Espirito Santo needs to sign players who have experience of the Premier League already.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “They are going to be in some sort of relegation battle, whether they manage to work their way up to mid-table is one thing, but I’m afraid this is when you need the experience of the Premier League.
“I think they’ve got the right manager to do that and to escape from where they are right now. They’ve made some progress, and the pressure’s starting to alleviate.
“But I wouldn’t be bringing in Brazilian flair players. I would not be bringing in South American talent to a British winter when you’ve got that sort of battle coming up. I’d be questioning my manager and my sporting director intently if I were a chief executive at West Ham.
“So let’s just see what they do. There’s a lot of talk, and there’ll be agents putting stories in papers right now about their own Brazilian players. That could be where it’s coming from, but I just don’t see it being a very clear strategy for West Ham.”
West Ham make striker decision
Meanwhile, West Ham are looking at striker options ahead of the January window, with Niclas Fullkrug set to leave.
Sources told Football Insider that West Ham will seriously consider offers for Fullkrug, especially considering he has only scored three goals during his time in England.
If the German departs, then the Hammers will be left with Callum Wilson and Callum Marshall as their striker options.
Therefore, Espirito Santo would be desperate to bring in another centre forward to help the East London side away from the relegation zone.
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