BBC journalist namedrops Chelsea in West Ham United transfer verdict
West Ham may have to pay more than their board wishes for new signings this summer due to the £105million sale of Declan Rice, according to BBC Sport journalist Nicola Pearson.
Writing on the BBC Sport blog on Friday (4 August), the journalist believes that the situation at the London Stadium is in contrast to that at London rivals Chelsea.
She noted that the Blues have had to sell players for less than their worth amid the necessity to balance the books at Stamford Bridge.
“On the one hand, the issue could simply be that the Hammers are chasing players that clubs don’t want or need to sell,” Pearson wrote for BBC Sport.
“But, in an already inflated transfer market, there is the chance that other clubs will be increasing the value of their players in the knowledge that West Ham have the Rice transfer income to spend.
“London rivals Chelsea have had to be prepared to sell players for less than they might be worth in their need to get wages off the books and in contrast the Hammers may have to be prepared to pay more than their board had hoped in the pursuit of replacing their former captain before the window shuts on 1 September.”
Difficult times
Not many people would have predicted these worrying times at the London Stadium after the memorable season that the Hammers enjoyed last time out.
The East London club secured their Premier League safety with plenty of games to spare, but more importantly made fantastic memories for all associated with the club by lifting the Europa Conference League trophy.
All was rosy at West Ham, but things have taken a dramatic turn for the worse since then, beginning with the sale of club captain and star player Rice.
His £105million exit brought in plenty of funds for new players, but such funds have yet to be spent, with other clubs perhaps using that figure against the Hammers this summer.
West Ham still have a bit of time to get things in order, but they may just get desperate as the new season rapidly approaches, with the club getting underway against Bournemouth next Saturday (12 August).
In other West Ham news, Rory Jennings has slammed David Moyes in a sack verdict shared live on talkSPORT.