James Ward-Prowse cited as West Ham United frustrate leading agents with ‘haphazard’ and ‘underwhelming’ transfer conduct
Agents are growing frustrated with West Ham over their conduct in the transfer market as they continue to fail in replacing Declan Rice, The Athletic reports.
The Hammers haven’t signed anyone yet this summer despite completing the £105million sale of their former captain to Arsenal, during a window characterised by widespread but inadequate pursuits of a vast list of targets.
The rejected bid for Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse being half of Southampton’s £40m asking price, and a long way short of the mooted £35m compromise is seen as a prime example of a Hammers policy that is not winning them any fans.
Roshane Thomas writes in The Athletic (30 July): “But the pressing issue is the prolonged search for Rice’s replacement. Internally, the hierarchy knew in December that this window was their last chance to earn a sizeable fee for Rice. But the haphazard nature of their bids for his successor has left [a lot] to be desired.
“The Athletic, on condition of anonymity to protect relationships, has spoken to leading agents in football and some expressed frustration over how West Ham are conducting their business.
“History shows West Ham have a tendency of making underwhelming opening offers and that is continuing this summer, a case in point being the £20m offer for Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse, which was rejected out of hand.”
Dismal
Agents and other clubs probably need to join the back of the queue of those who are growing increasingly infuriated at the club, behind actual West Ham fans.
Rice lifting the Europa Conference League trophy on 7 June looked like it had rescued a miserable campaign and David Moyes’ job, while providing a fitting send off for the now-departed midfielder.
It was widely expected for months prior that he would move on this summer, and after a campaign of underachieving in the Premier League business was going to be needed either way.
So, even accounting for the delayed nature of the Rice sale, the fact that the new season is just around the corner and the Irons have only succeeded in winding up selling clubs and agents, by firing out bids that have little chance of success in all directions, is a miserable return.
The clash behind the scenes between the manager and the new technical director Tim Steidten makes it look likely that one or both will be gone before long, and still the squad is in stasis.
Time is running out to address key issues, and whether it be Ward-Prowse, Denis Zakaria, Edson Alvarez or any number of others the Irons need to identify their preferred targets and make serious pushes to get them, to at least replace Rice as a bare minimum as soon as possible.
In other West Ham news, the Irons board will be regretting their decision not to sack Moyes amid the current mess.