Reports claim West Ham were so distracted by the William Carvalho saga that they missed the chance to loan Schurrle from Dortmund.
Reports in The Sun that say West Ham missed out on the chance to sign Andre Schurrle late in the transfer window may only increase the frustration among supporters who felt their club did not reinforce adequately once again this summer.
The report claims that Dortmund forward Schurrle was keen on a return to the Premier League and West Ham were offered the chance to sign him on loan with an option to buy at the end of the 2017/18 seasons for £26 million.
However, The Hammers allegedly took their eye off the ball due to the confusion surrounding the William Carvalho saga, meaning the chance to land Schurrle slipped through their grasp.
On paper, West Ham supporters would have a right to be frustrated. The 26-year-old boasts one hell of a CV, having won the 2014 World Cup, the Premier League and two DFB-Pokals while also scoring 22 goals in 57 games for Germany.
On the other, however, the phrase ‘dodged a bullet’ comes to mind. Since returning to the Bundesliga from Chelsea in January 2015, Schurrle’s club form pales in comparison with his continued excellence on the international front.
Wolfsburg paid £24 million for the versatile attacker (The Guardian) but, after just 13 goals in 63 games, sold him to Dortmund at a £6 million loss. And Schurrle didn’t exactly fare any better under Thomas Tuchel last season, managing just five goals in 25 games in a season beset by a lack of fitness and form.
Schurlle may be just 26, but there’s a growing sense that he will never reach the potential he showed during a dazzling spell at Bayer Leverkusen during 2011 to 2013.
And West Ham know more than most that signing a player based on reputation alone doesn’t always go to plan. The Hammers may have dropped the ball on deadline-day but that may be no bad thing.
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