Expectations can be a dangerous thing in football. Often, they set you up for a fall.
But as West Ham United continue to turn heads in the transfer market, who can blame those of a claret and blue persuasion for rubbing their hands together and counting down the days until Julen Lopetegui leads his new side out for the very first time?
In the space of just 48 hours, The Hammers confirmed the signings of the reigning Championship Player of the Year and Germany’s first choice number nine.
Crysencio Summerville comes in from Leeds United, joined at the London Stadium by former Borussia Dortmund targetman Niclas Fullkrug.
Arriving for a combined £52 million, they take West Ham’s summer spending to over £100 million following the previous additions of Luis Guilherme and Lopetegui’s former Wolves captain Max Kilman.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka should put pen to paper at some point this week too. Talks are at an advanced stage with the tough-tackling Manchester United right-back.
And while his free-agent status means Guido Rodriguez might arrive to relatively little fanfare from the masses, an experienced Argentina international with a World Cup winners’ medal in his collection could yet prove to be the most impressive signing of the lot, particularly from a financial perspective.
West Ham United to sign Guido Rodriguez
HITC reported last week that West Ham had hi-jacked Fenerbahce’s deal for the 30-year-old enforcer. Rodriguez’s Real Betis contract expired in July.
Jose Mourinho’s side are not the only team to miss out.
Europa League winners Atalanta had held talks, while a move to Barcelona appeared close earlier in the window before discussions broke down.
As for Betis, a team now under the stewardship of ex-West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini had not given up hope on tying Rodriguez down to a new contract. Those hopes are now set to go up in smoke.
Not that former Verdiblancos team-mate Marc Bartra is losing any sleep.
Betis have lost plenty of talented players of the years – including Premier League trio Gio Lo Celso, Alex Moreno and Emerson Royal – before bouncing back.
“In the event that (any key player) leaves, we have a very good team,” former Barcelona defender Bartra tells El Correo Web. “People with a lot of accumulated experience.
“It has been demonstrated during all these years. Important players have left and the team has continued to be in Europe. Whether German (Pezzella) leaves, Guido has also left, Betis is above all.”
Niclas Fullkrug is Julen Lopetegui’s latest addition
Guido Rodriguez has been linked with a move to England frequently over the years.
There had been rumours suggesting he could have ended up at the likes of Arsenal or Liverpool shortly after arriving at Real Betis from Mexican outfit Club America, despite a £69 million release clause existing in his contract at the time.
Rodriguez would be more of a short-term addition than a long-term one at the age of 30. But, like fellow veteran Fullkrug, he will add real depth, physicality and no little quality to the spine of West Ham’s team.
“The events of the last few days have been unfolding rapidly. It was not our intention to bring the Niclas Füllkrug issue up again like this,” Dortmund director Sebastien Kehl told Sport1 shortly before the striker’s exit was confirmed.
“But it has developed very quickly in the last two days. It was not our plan to let Niclas Füllkrug go at this point.
“There are things that have to be decided and, if the player then expresses a wish, then you respect it to a certain extent. Not an easy decision (for the club or for Fullkrug).
“We are prepared for such scenarios. It is not as if we have not already drawn up a plan in the last two days on how to deal with such a possible departure.”
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