West Ham mess summed up by Ruben Vargas and Brighton transfer update

West Ham United could seriously do with ramping up their transfer activity, with Ruben Vargas the latest name to be linked.

West Ham have made initial contact to sign Vargas, who is currently still at the World Cup with Switzerland.

Vargas came on as a late substitute in Tuesday night's last-16 tie with Colombia in Vancouver.

The 27-year-old wrote his name in Swiss folklore by burying the winning penalty to help his nation into their first quarter-final since the 1950s.

Vargas' stock is only rising, then, at a time when Sevilla already value him around £15million.

And in a further show of how far down the pecking order West Ham may be, Brighton and Hove Albion have now joined the race.

West Ham getting nowhere fast despite new hire

West Ham have so far announced only Keiber Lamadrid this summer - a player who spent time on loan at the London Stadium last season.

Mateus Fernandes has gone for £85million, meanwhile, so there is money there to be spent.

But the dallying, not helped by what can only be described as a mess behind the scenes, is holding the Hammers back.

West Ham can forget any hope they had of signing Vargas as, according to Spanish outlet Marca's print edition on Wednesday, Brighton intend to submit a bid.

At a time when United were making initial contact with the attacker's representatives, Brighton were putting together a concrete offer.

This hesitation is likely to be a recurring theme at the London Stadium this summer.

Sure, Nils Koppen has finally been hired as new recruitment chief, but it has come with the window already a few weeks gone.

If not Vargas, then who for West Ham?

West Ham have to be realistic about their business this summer.

While they are a big fish in a small pond - relatively speaking - in the Championship, they are still some way down the wider food chain.

It is quite clear Vargas will have a pick of 'bigger' clubs to choose from, for example.

A move for winger Andreas Schjelderup makes more sense for West Ham on the face of it.

West Ham were always going to be playing catch-up this summer due to their relegation coming on the final day, plus the boardroom upheaval.

With Koppen now in place, let's hope the transfer business can be laser focused on targets West Ham have a realistic chance of landing.