West Ham United make new January plans after £82m transfer update
West Ham United are set to undertake a “consolidation exercise” in the January transfer window after a busy summer of spending, according to football finance expert Dan Plumley.
Reports have suggested that the Hammers could have limited funds to spend during the mid-season window having backed Julen Lopetegui to the tune of £82million this summer [Sean Whetstone, 8 September].
Although Plumley expects the Irons to plan for the long-term rather than spend big mid-season, he does admit that a bad start to the Premier League season could trigger a reaction in the transfer market.
“It’s a sensible strategy,” Plumley exclusively told West Ham Zone.
“There’s been a big investment on and off of the pitch as they’ve restricted a lot over the last couple of years.
“A new manager incoming, boardroom changes, some investment in the transfer market that is not insignificant for a club of that size.
“So a consolidation exercise in January probably seems the most likely and that fits in with that kind of long-term strategy that was pitched by the club and from the outside looking in, based on their numbers it makes sense.
“Of course, getting to January and seeing where they are in the table, there will always be that kind of expectation management looking at where the season has gone and where it might progress to which might mean a bit of a trigger reaction sometimes.
“But all signs point to a bit of a consolidation this season and more of a long-term view on planning for the future.”
Will West Ham spend in the January transfer window?
Although every club tends to be reactive in the transfer market, it does seem as though the Irons are unlikely to make wholesale changes to Lopetegui’s playing ranks in the middle of the season.
The former Real Madrid boss seems to have a squad of players that he likes following his first summer in charge at the London Stadium and unless players leave or pick up injuries, there is no desperate need to recruit.
If the right opportunity presented itself, the Hammers should have the money available to get a deal over the line, but fans shouldn’t expect any big-money moves in the new year.
In other West Ham news, a Jarrod Bowen statue has been mooted after new footage emerged of the clash with Fulham
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