West Ham United fans have been far from happy with the club’s transfer dealings so far this summer.
The Hammers have signed just one player so far in the shape of experienced right back Pablo Zabaleta – who turns 33 midway through next season – on a free transfer from Manchester City.
Slaven Bilic has been linked with a plethora of players including Joe Hart, Chris Smalling, Daniel Sturridge, Kelechi Iheanacho, Jack Wilshere, Henry Onyekuru, Michy Batshuayi, Bertrand Traore, Anthony Modeste, Olivier Giroud and Jermain Defoe.
And while the former Croatia boss has publicly stated he only wants “three or four game-changer signings” his options appear to be dwindling with Onyekuru joining Everton, Traore moving to Lyon and Defoe to Bournemouth.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic
The club’s transfer business, or more accurately the lack of it, has stoked an angry response from many Hammers fans who feel the club are being left behind.
A large section of supporters also fear owners David Sullivan and David Gold will fail to deliver on promises over transfers like they did during a disastrous year of recruitment last term.
But as the old saying goes every cloud has a silver lining and a major positive has emerged from the club’s recruitment this summer and it is just what fans have been asking for; things to be done more professionally and discretely.
Sullivan, his sons Jack and Dave, Gold and Brady have all been heavily criticised for their public profiles and washing the club’s dirty linen in public.
Sullivan took to to the club’s official website last season to criticise West Ham’s performance after a defeat and was lambasted by pundits and fans for issuing a public apology to supporters following a 3-2 loss to Leicester City.
Gold has been criticised for his regular updates on Twitter while many fans are irked by Karren Brady’s regular column in The Sun where she often discusses club and team affairs.
Jack and Dave Sullivan have built up a big following for discussing team affairs on Twitter.
And Brady was forced to intervene to have a ridiculous column dubbed “The Insider” – which openly discussed transfer targets and business – removed from the club’s official website after she was inundated with complaints from fans.
West Ham United owners David Gold and David Sullivan
But barring Gold’s recent controversial comments about his views on youth development, this summer has seen a distinct lack of public performance from the owners.
Gold, Brady and Sullivans sons have been a lot quieter on social media and there have been no statements or transfer updates on the club’s website and very little word coming from inside the club on recruitment other than Bilic’s end of season statement that he was looking to make four signings.
While a lack of incomings is frustrating for fans, the penny appears to have finally dropped for those running the club and the West Ham faithful – who were fast becoming the butt of the joke for rival fans – will be grateful.
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