This will be a very brief round up today, so here it goes.
Bacca Deal
I feel like all I have done for the last month is talk about this deal. I first wrote of our interest on May 31st and it seems to have been going on ever since. We first enquired about him before the Copa America and then had to wait a long time after to begin discussions. The transfer is still in the balance. This is not me sitting on the fence. These are the facts. Bacca's and our wage demands are not in line yet. People say "Just give him the cash" but it doesn't really work like that. There are wage structures and those factors have to be considered. I do believe still that the club will reach an agreement eventually. There are other clubs that are potentially circling for him including A.Madrid but it seems they have other targets ahead of him. I do think a little perspective needs to be retained here. We are preparing a deal including agents' wages and signing on fees which equates to almost £30m for a 30 year old forward. A few years ago we were signing Mido on a free for £1k a week. It is a big step forward. The deal is pretty much as I left it yesterday, and not a lot has changed. Talks have happened and they will continue. It is a rather amusing situation that I often get blamed when this happens in transfers. I can assure you as much as I wish I had that power I don't. If a deal changes, this is not my fault – it means that one of the parties couldn't meet the other's demands and in business this is the norm. At the moment the club still hope that this deal can be concluded this week.
Forward Signings
There are at least eight other offers on the table for other forwards. These forwards are all of a high quality and the Bacca situation helps in some respects because it is taking attention off the other deals. The chairman is ambitious, but some of the bids are realistic and have been covered in detail in my daily accounts while others are extremely ambitious.
Unhappy Forwards
Both Sakho and Valencia are said to be unhappy at the club and have made it clear that they want to leave. The main club in for Sakho appeared to be Sunderland but with Big Sam likely to get the England job their situation has changed. The club hope that WBA will move for Sakho as it appears that it will be difficult for him to remain.
Youngster Excitement
Today Mitch, one of our top writers, wrote an article on whether he would keep Martin Samuelsen or loan him out. Martin is just one of the many exciting up and coming talents that we have at the club. If you think of the likes of Sam Howes, Reece Burke, Reece Oxford, Josh Cullen, Samulesen, Quina, Martinez, Fletcher and many others there are a lot of exciting players for the future.
The owners really are doing all they can within realistic boundaries to land the top forward that we need. Yes it is frustrating to not land targets but this is what happens. Realistically we are not a champions league club yet, we haven't moved to the OS yet and we are not quite as big yet for the players we are aiming to be. They have high ambitions and will do what they can to achieve them. We just have to be patient and trust that they will. This time last year we signed one of the best players in the recent Euro Championships plus many other top players.
James 13th July 2016
I see too many tweets where they're telling David Gold, or even more ridiculously Jack Sullivan, to "just pay the money and get the deal done". These people have absolutely no idea.
It's quite frankly embarrassing and makes me cringe every time. Our board and their families must think some West Ham fans are thick and ignorant. Sadly, they're right.
Max 14th July 2016
Another informative article Ex, unfortunately to many FIFA managers these days.
I think the frustration in lies that the previous signings havn't been strikers or right backs.. Still not quite getting my head around the fact that we are not in the mix for any potentials in the RB position with Antonio obviously being touted to be there permantly.Really hoping it works out.
In a nutshell keep the faith & all will come good.
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Stunaldo 14th July 2016
Most of the negative comment re 'just pay the money' are from kids, and if a player doesn't show desire to play for us then the club should look elsewhere, a lot of people/kids on here base their knowledge of a player on playing FIFA! Whoever the chairman bring in I will back when they pull the shirt on, I've supported the club for many years and players come and go, we have a fantastic board that saved the club, they have earned the right to run the club the way they see fit, between them, Slaven and tony Henry our recent transfers have been outstanding, everyone needs to trust them to get it right
Matt 14th July 2016
We Got Payet .. Nuf said .
Ray 15th July 2016
I think personally we should forget the bacca deal he's only after the money there are other good strikers out there for a lot less money that want to play for the hammers