Speaking on the Talking Transfers Podcast, Graeme Bailey has been discussing the deal that saw Flynn Downes join West Ham United.
Bailey isn’t a fan of this transfer. Indeed, he’s stated that he believes that Downes wasn’t even one of the 10 best midfielders in the Championship last season, claiming that this move was one of the strangest deals of the summer.
Interestingly, he also claimed that West Ham had sounded out a move for Lewis O’Brien before moving for Downes, but they opted to land the former Swansea man instead of O’Brien.
What’s been said?
Bailey spoke about Downes and O’Brien.
“That’s one of the strangest deals of the summer the Flynn Downes one, he’s a competent player, but he’s not even one of the top 10 midfielders in the Championship,” Bailey said.
“We do understand with that one that they did look very closely at Lewis O’Brien at Huddersfield, who I think is probably the best midfielder in the Championship, interestingly they went for Downes instead.”
Better deal
With Lewis O’Brien set to sign for Nottingham Forest for less than West Ham paid for Downes, we have to wonder why the Hammers didn’t pursue this deal.
Indeed, as Bailey says, O’Brien was fantastic in the Championship last season, and he would have suited the London club down to the ground.
A physical midfielder with bags of energy, O’Brien would have been brilliant alongside Declan Rice in the West Ham midfield.
However, for one reason or another, United opted to bring in Downes instead, and we can only hope their decision is vindicated in the coming season.
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