It’s not been the best of summers in terms of transfers for West Ham United, and coming so soon after the Europa Conference League title win, that’s a huge disappointment.
David Moyes either hasn’t been given the money to go out and sign players, or at the very least it was delayed for far too long, or owner David Sullivan and his recruitment team are completely incompetent at getting deals over the line.
How else do you explain why the Hammers haven’t picked up a single hire and there’s now only a week and a half until the first matches of the new Premier League season?
There appeared to be no movement whatsoever from the east Londoners until the deal to take Declan Rice from Arsenal was done, and since then every single deal has gone pear-shaped.
Either the Hammers haven’t been prepared to pay the money for supposed targets – as in the case of James Ward-Prowse, per Sky Sports – or players have ended up turning the club down – as in the case of Carlos Borges:
More on Carlos Borges. Understand he’s already on his way to Amsterday in order to complete medical tests as new Ajax player. ???? #Ajax
Deal done with Manchester City and hijack almost completed despite verbal agreement with West Ham.
Exclusive story, confirmed. ?? pic.twitter.com/fNh7yOb4UL
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 1, 2023
Now it appears that Moyes and Sullivan could be set to see yet another signing slip through their fingers.
According to The Sun, West Ham were looking to attract Stuttgart defender, Konstantinos Mavropanos, to the club, but as Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg now notes, Serie A champions, Napoli, are pushing to sign the player, and a move there holds obvious cachet.
Napoli is still pushing for #Mavropanos as he wants to leave @VfB this window!
?? Price valuation and talks about €20m.
Player has not yet taken a decision. No verbal agreement in place because of several inquiries from the Premier League. Talks ongoing. @SkySportDE ?? pic.twitter.com/q45tO5TL2x
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) August 1, 2023
Mavropanos has had one good season in the fourth ranked German Bunders league and his value has rocketed from nothing to 17 million . Westham shouldn’t panic and buy an over priced mediocre player from a mediocre club in a mediocre league . There is still some talent left in Westham’s academy that needs to be promoted or else what’s the point of having an academy .