Let’s face the facts: the summer transfer window was an almighty failure by all involved. With the exception of a couple of players, none of the recruits have lived up to their lofty billing.
In his latest exclusive transfer column, ExWHUemployee has detailed that we could see several summer signings leave the club after just five or six months with the club.
Firstly, what we know already. Jonathan Calleri, who has expedited himself back to South America and Gokhan Tore who’s sustained cartilage damage in his right knee and will not play again this season will be sent packing back to their parent clubs when the January transfer window opens up.
As for Simone Zaza, the situation is a little trickier. On the hook for £20m if he makes three more appearances for the club, West Ham are eager to see him leave the club.
There is interest from Spanish and Italian teams in the on-loan Juventus striker, namely Valencia and Napoli, but of course, he cannot leave West Ham unless someone’s willing to take him off our hands and that could contain some very tricky and lengthy negotiations.
Alvaro Arbeloa was brought in as cover for Sam Byram at right-back, but despite the Englishman’s lengthy injury lay-off, Arbeloa has failed to impress which prompted Slaven Bilic to make the move to a back three formation.
Only under contract until the end of the season and not getting any game time, it’s understood that West Ham would be willing to let him leave in January with Real Zaragoza amongst several notable Spanish sides interested in the former Liverpool and Real Madrid fullback.
Two more players have been linked with exits as well, Ex notes, are Pedro Obiang and Dimitri Payet. In the case of Obiang, this is very much a non-starter. Now considered a key member of the first-team squad, the former Sampdoria standout is one of the first names on the teamsheet and not someone Bilic would be looking to let go of.
Dimitri Payet is another kettle of fish. After speaking out about not closing the door on a return to Marseille and stating that playing for Arsenal ‘would be fun’, the rumour mill has gone into overdrive linking him with moves away. One possible move mentioned is a swap for Anthony Martial, but that’s been quickly laid to rest.
It’s believed West Ham have quite a big valuation on Payet in January which would deter many clubs from making a move for him next month. The belief is that he will stay put for the time being and the club will turn down all offers for the Frenchman but if West Ham have a poor season then he will consider his future in the summer.
Another player touted for a January exit is Ashley Fletcher. The former Manchester United academy star has played a decent amount of games in the first-team this season due to our injuries and lack of a better option and is hard work was rewarded with a goal against his former employers.
However, talk of leaving to join Leeds on loan until the end of the season is very much wide of the mark. The 20-year-old has proven to be an interesting option off the bench and Bilic wants to keep him in the first-team fold for the time being.
In regards to some of the other development squad players who are knocking on the door for some first-team football over the winter, Reece Oxford will be getting a decent look in the first-team over the next few months after signing a new long-term contract with the club on his 18th birthday last week.
Marcus Browne is someone who is highly-rated within the club and the plan is to send him out on loan next month to play regular football in the Football League. Coventry City are keen on taking the midfielder on loan.
Another player fans are talking about is Toni Martinez with the Spaniard scoring goals for fun in the U23 side. The first-team staff are aware of his goalscoring prowess and will consider using him in the main squad in the coming weeks and months, and Martinez could even be handed a debut in the FA Cup clash with Manchester City.
Let’s talk potential January arrivals now! We know David Sullivan has close ties with agents that work with South American footballers, as we’ve seen with the loan transfers of Jonathan Calleri and Brian Montenegro from Deportivo Maldonado. Don’t be surprised to see West Ham go down this route again if an attractive deal comes up.
Slaven Bilic has established quite a strong friendship with Chelsea manager Antonio Conte since the Italian’s arrival in English football earlier this year and the hope is that the Blues boss will allow one of his fringe players to join the Hammers on loan for the rest of the season.
Our primary target from Stamford Bridge is Michy Batshuayi, someone we tried and failed to sign in the summer. Conte is not willing to let the Belgian leave on loan as they need the cover for Diego Costa who is no strange to a few niggling injuries. West Ham will continue to keep tabs on the situation to see if it changes but it’s understood Batshuayi wants to play more regularly.
Asmir Begovic is someone West Ham have targeted to be their new goalkeeper, but this looks like it could be a summer transfer if it happens at all. Adrian’s contract is up at the end of the season (although West Ham do have a two-year option they could activate) so we could see the Spaniard leave if a new ‘keeper is definitely on the cards.
Eager for some defensive cover, Branislav Ivanovic is someone the Hammers are really keen on. His contract is also up at the end of the season and if a deal can’t be struck for him next month then expect West Ham to target him in the summer as well. Still one of Chelsea’s premier backups in defence, it’s a tough ask to have them let him leave.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek is a player who could be targeted in a loan deal but he would demand playing time guarantees which we would be unable to meet at this stage. Dominic Solanke is also on our radar with his deal up in the summer.
We’re all aware of West Ham’s public chase of Daniel Sturridge but again, this one looks like all bark and no bite. Contact’s been made between West Ham and Liverpool and despite Sturridge losing his place in the side, Jurgen Klopp still considers him a vital member of the squad and he won’t be on the move.
John Flanagan is a right-back looked at as a potential loan target but his uninspiring spell with Burnley is dissuading us from making a genuine move for him.
Like Chelsea, there has been talk of a number of Manchester United players being targets for West Ham. Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are both being looked at as audacious loan signings with both forwards playing second fiddle to an in-form Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Old Trafford. The likelihood of these deals being pulled off are slim-to-none but it’s worth asking the question.
Marouane Fellaini is a midfielder the club are looking at but there is interest from abroad in his services, including AC Milan after he was spotted in the city. Chris Smalling is another unlikely target but given his situation at United under Jose Mourinho, he could seek a move elsewhere.
Right-back is a real issue for the Hammers with Arbeloa on the way out and Byram not back from his hamstring injury just yet. Mathieu Debuchy and former two-time loanee Carl Jenkinson are being eyed up as possible January signings and the likelihood is Arsenal will allow one of these players to leave.
Wolves starlet Dominic Iorfa is someone West Ham have been tracking for awhile. The Hammers have had great success with buying talented British fullbacks from the Championship in recent years with Aaron Cresswell and Sam Byram, so Iorfa could be the next one to make the step up.
Another former Hammer in Glen Johnson could be available as well if Stoke decide to allow the veteran defender to move on in January, while players from across Europe’s top five leagues are being scouted.
We’re all interested in bringing in another striker and Ex notes that West Brom’s Saido Berahino could be someone we take a long, hard look at. The former England U21 international shares the same agent as Reece Oxford who has just signed a new contract with the club and the striker is eager to leave the Hawthorns.
After seeing moves to Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Stoke turned down by chairman Jeremy Peace in the summer, Berahino is at loggerheads with the Baggies and has his heart set on leaving. Tony Pulis could choose to cash-in on the striker next month thanks to the fine form of Salomon Rondon and reinvest the cash on a striker who wants to be there.
On the 2nd of January, The West Ham Way will be hosting another VIP Event for West Ham fans prior to the visit of Manchester United. There’s free beer, food catered for, a raffle draw and free coach travel to the London Stadium from the venue, the East Ham Working Mans Club.
Not to mention West Ham legend Alvin Martin will be present! The ideal pre-match event for all Hammers fans. Tickets are just £25 for adults & £15 for minors – limited availability so make sure you buy yours now.
Don’t forget, tonight Ex & the gang will be on Phoenix FM again for his weekly radio show, every Wednesday from 7PM. Make sure you tune in for the latest Hammers news & some Irons chatter.
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