West Ham finally start to get it right as Sydie Peck deal targeted
Sydie Peck is reportedly on West Ham's summer transfer radar, and the Sheffield United midfielder would be a strong signing for the Hammers.
With the 2025-26 season now in the past, West Ham transfer chiefs know that they need to perform well in the market over the coming weeks.
Nothing less than an instant return to the Premier League will suffice for both supporters and those inside the football club.
That's going to be an easier task said than done, however, as the Championship is a relentless and unforgiving league.
If West Ham are to win promotion, then signing proven Championship stars such as Peck would be a good place to start this summer.
The 21-year-old has been shining in the second tier over the last couple of years, and now looks set to have a big decision on his hands at Bramall Lane.
How did Sydie Peck fare for Sheffield United last season?
Having started his youth career with Arsenal, Peck spent just over a decade with the Gunners before leaving in 2021.
Sheffield United secured his services that summer, and after spending some time in their academy and on loan with Oldham in the National League, the first-team was soon calling for the midfielder.
Peck made his senior debut for Sheffield United on 9 December 2023, coming on as a substitute in a 1-0 Premier League win over Brentford.
But it was the 2024-25 campaign that really saw him breakthrough as a real first-team star for Blades, making 47 appearances in all competitions that term.
So, whilst he may have played fewer games in 2025-26 (41), Peck enjoyed a career year last term, scoring five goals and providing a further five assists across all competitions.
As per FotMob, no defensive midfielder in the Championship registered a higher xG (expected goals) on target (7.02) or won more aerial duels (79) than Peck did last season.
Meanwhile, he also took 56 shots, completed 1,537 passes, created 43 chances, delivered 22 successful crosses and performed 21 successful dribbles in the second tier.
On top of that, Peck won 198 duels and 71 tackles, took 84 touches in the opposition box, made 185 recoveries, 36 interceptions and 76 clearances respectively.
In short, he was absolutely everywhere for Sheffield United in the middle of the park, proving himself to be a high-class contributor at both ends of the pitch.
Peck narrowly missed out on EFL honours
Contracted with Sheffield United until the summer of 2028, the Blades won't be in any hurry to sell their star academy graduate in the next few weeks.
If they do, however, the season he's just banked is sure to see his price tag rocket, and it remains to be seen whether it would be a figure that West Ham are happy to pay.
Peck was nominated for the 2025-26 EFL Young Championship Player of the Season award at the EFL Honours back in April, as a mark of just how good a campaign he's just had.
He was pipped to the award by Leicester City's Jordan James, but the fact that he was shortlisted only further boosts his standing as one of the very best in his position at that level.
So, with the Hammers perhaps looking at doing some repair works to their engine room this summer, bringing Peck in would be a very shrewd move indeed.