West Ham United are desperate for reinforcements in January and is this what their business could look like when the window slams shut.
The Hammers are enduring a poor second season under Slaven Bilic and are desperate for new recruits in the January transfer window.
The club has been linked with moves for a host of players including Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe, Brentford’s Scott Hogan, Celtic star Moussa Dembele, Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi and Stoke City’s Glen Johnson.
Approaching halfway into the month-long window the Hammers have so fair failed to bring anyone in with a number of bids reportedly rejected for Defoe, Robert Snodgrass at Hull, Hogan and Johnson.
West Ham co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold
Indeed Hammers owners David Sullivan and David Gold have been roundly criticised by fans and pundits alike not only their failings in the summer window – which saw Bilic’s squad diluted with poor quality, cheap signings and loans – but also the fact they conduct their transfer business so publicly.
The club has only Premier League survival to focus on now after they were knocked out of the Europa League, EFL Cup and most recently the FA Cup off the back of a 5-0 home thrashing by Manchester City last time out.
Here we try and cut through the speculation and take a look at the deals that are most likely to happen for West Ham this month with four players coming in, £25 million spent and two loans.
Brentford’s Scott Hogan celebrates
Scott Hogan – £15 million
According to Sky Sports the Hammers have seen three bids of £8m, £10m and £12.5m rejected for the Brentford striker who has 14 goals to his name this season.
Reports suggest the Bees will hold out for their £15m valuation and given West Ham’s lack of firepower they will have to match it to get their man.
Hull City’s Robert Snodgrass
Robert Snodgrass – £10 million
After having a somewhat derisory £3m bid rejected, Slaven Bilic submitted a second bid of £5m for Hull’s star man on Tuesday night, as reported by Sky Sports.
Like Defoe, though, Hull will see their key playmaker as being worth more to them given the vast sums of money at stake for staying in the Premier League.
With Snodgrass out of contract in the summer the Tigers could be tempted if the Hammers double their offer to a more realistic £10m.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte doesn’t fancy Michy Batshuayi
Michy Batshuayi – loan from Chelsea
It’s all gone quiet on the Defoe and Dembele front of late and that’s because the focus has turned to Chelsea outcast Michy Batshuayi after he was linked with a loan move to Swansea.
With Blues boss Antonio Conte keen to sign Swans forward Fernando Llorente as back-up for Diego Costa, Batshuayi was set to go in the other direction as a sweetner.
But the former Marseille star, who turned down a £31 million move to West Ham in the summer before opting to join Chelsea, is now said to be pushing for a loan move to the London Stadium.
Hammers fans will be hoping an option to buy is included in the deal as they look like belatedly getting their man.
Carl Jenkinson was jeered during his return to action for Arsenal
Carl Jenkinson – loan from Arsenal
A name familiar to Hammers fans after two separate loan deals in recent seasons had very different outcomes.
First time around under Sam Allardyce, Gunners defender Carl Jenkinson was a revelation rampaging up and down the right hand side for the Hammers.
Under Bilic the next season things did not go quite as well with Jenkinson suffering a loss of form and then seriously injuring his knee cutting his loan deal short as he returned to the Emirates.
His recent return to fitness and first team action at Arsenal has not gone down well with supporters who heckled him for what they deemed a poor display.
Speculation suggests the Hammers want to bring him back for a third loan deal and the player is also said to be keen.
It would solve West Ham’s biggest problem aside from scoring goals, their troubled right back position which has been woefully filled by summer flop Havard Nordtveit over the last few months.
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