West Ham United fans will be delighted that these players never arrived at Upton Park or the London Stadium.
West Ham fans may be frustrated with the board once again with just one signing – a free transfer – through the door at the London Stadium this summer, but sometimes missing out on targets proves to be an extremely positive thing.
With that in mind, here is a look at nine deals West Ham missed out on that proved to be blessings for the club…
Joey Barton
According to the Daily Mail back in 2015, West Ham wanted to sign Joey Barton and the midfielder even underwent a medical before fan backlash scuppered the move. Since then, he enjoyed an excellent season with Burnley before a dreadful time at Rangers that ended in acrimonious circumstances and a return to Turf Moor that also seemingly ended because of controversial circumstances.
Rickie Lambert
Rickie Lambert
Rickie Lambert was a fantastic servant for Southampton before earning his dream move to Liverpool in 2014. However, a few months previously West Ham had made a bid that was rejected by the Saints, according to the Daily Mirror. In the three seasons since he arrived at Anfield, he has scored seven league goals, four of which came during his time with Cardiff City in the Championship.
Grant Holt
The Daily Mail reported back in June 2012 that West Ham had offered £6 million for Norwich striker Grant Holt. After scoring eight Premier League goals the following season, Holt has since scored 12 league goals across the last four campaigns.
Crystal Palace’s Connor Wickham
Connor Wickham
In August 2014, the Telegraph reported that West Ham were prepared to pay up to £5 million for Connor Wickham. In the three seasons since, the forward has scored 12 Premier League goals in total.
Ross McCormack
According to BBC Sport back in 2014, West Ham bid for Ross McCormack only to see the offer rejected by Leeds. Though until his move to Aston Villa he remained a prolific goalscorer in the Championship, his time at Villa has been disappointing.
Lacina Traore
Somehow, West Ham reportedly wanted to sign Lacina Traore shortly after his two-game loan spell at Everton, the Daily Mail reported back in 2014. Since the Hammers missed out, he has scored nine league goals in 39 games.
Aston Villa’s Scott Hogan
Scott Hogan
In January, Sky Sports reported that West Ham had agreed to pay £9 million plus add-ons for Scott Hogan. The deal never took place and Hogan joined Aston Villa. Unfortunately, injury wrecked much of the rest of his season.
Callum Wilson
Last summer, West Ham bid £25 million for Matt Ritchie and Callum Wilson, according to Sky Sports. Unfortunately for the latter, he has suffered two cruciate ligament injuries – the second of which came in February of this year.
Charlie Austin
The Daily Mirror suggested that West Ham were ultimately put off a move for Charlie Austin in 2015 due to his fitness. While he has scored against the Hammers for Southampton, he has currently scored just seven league goals and played 19 times in the top flight in a season and a half.
Southampton’s Charlie Austin
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