George Overhill

Mon 29 January 2024 8:30, UK

Dharmesh Sheth has been criticised over his reporting West Ham’s pursuit of Ibrahim Osman from FC Nordsjaelland, by Farzam Abolhosseini.

After the Sky Sports journalist had reported on 28 January that the Irons’ move for the 19-year-old Ghanian had stalled thanks to the asking price being too high for a player “who has entered the final six months of his contract” he then posted a correction on Twitter later the same day saying that the winger’s deal is in fact not close to expiring.

He then suggested that a possible deal to bring him to the London Stadium might still be on if the clubs agreeing a price, before BT journalist Abolhosseini took him to task for his mistake, as he also has with Ben Jacobs, before suggesting that if the transfer for Osman is done it will be on “illegal terms”.

This came after his report on 28 January that the move had collapsed thanks to an unsanctioned agent’s involvement and extortionate fee demand, which appears to have been backed up by a Danish FA (DBU) statement.

Sheth wrote: “Correction… apparently he’s not in the final 6 months! My bad. Deal not off… but gap remains in valuation. Still 4 days to come to an agreement. West Ham keeping eyes open on alternatives.”

And Abolhosseini’s reply, with a winking emoji, was: “Don’t use the word apparently. You know, you were wrong. But like the rest of the guys, you were sent out with a message instead of checking up on facts.

“Yes, the deal can still happen, but it’s going to be with illegal terms from West Ham – apparently.”

Told off

It appears that British journalists are skirting over the agent issue, but the statement given to BT by the DBU certainly seems to corroborate something untoward in the arrangements.

Since Sheth had got the contract length wrong it also suggests that Abolhosseini knows what he is talking about on this one.

So if the deal has been worked out with Mitch Bakkovens involved rather than Darryl Powell, who Osman is apparently registered with, it looks like it can’t go through as had been previously negotiated.

Something is up if the wrong representation has been involved up to this point and there is a dispute among journalists over what is to blame.

Having managed to close a loan deal for Kalvin Phillips, although that itself has been subject to differences of opinion between reports on whether a permanent option was included, it looked like West Ham were quickly about to tie up another January arrival.

But the pursuit of Osman has now become bogged down in controversy and disagreement over what has happened, so it is difficult to see a satisfactory conclusion being reached in just a few days before the window shuts.

But if the apparent failure of this deal in what appears to be fairly ridiculous circumstances has a knock-on effect for other moves before the deadline, such as a possible exit for Said Benrahma, it will be an embarrassing turn of events just as hopes were getting up that Tim Steidten could spearhead a strong end to the window.

In other West Ham news, the Hammers are on “red alert” over a shock deal to sign a Premier League striker.

For more West Ham news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.