West Ham making serious error selling Reece Burke for £1.5m

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West Ham United have allowed young defender Reece Burke to join Hull City on a permanent basis.

Of all of the clubs in the Premier League, few look set to capture the imagination in the transfer market this summer quite like West Ham with several new signings already through the door and reports hinting that more could be on the way.

Manuel Pellegrini looked a superb appointment and he has overseen several exciting signings, including deals for Jack Wilshere and Issa Diop.

It really does appear that West Ham could be building the kind of squad that ensures that they find themselves in nothing like the trouble that plagued them last season. But it does still seem that the Hammers may not have got everything right during this window.

It was confirmed earlier this week that Reece Burke’s 15-year stay with the Irons has come to an end, with the London Evening Standard reporting that he has joined the Tigers for just £1.5 million.

Burke may have been struggling to knock on the door even before the new arrivals came in, but it seems to be a serious error to let him leave this summer especially for such a low figure.

There had been some real signs of promise when Burke had been given a chance in the Hammers’ first-team and his loan spells away from the club suggested that he was developing.

West Ham may be vindicated in their decision to let Burke move on. The 21-year-old may perhaps end up struggling to realise his full potential and ultimately be unable to get back to the Premier League.

But given that £1.5 million does not seem to buy you a lot at top flight level any longer, the Hammers may as well have rolled the dice and kept Burke on their books – possibly loaning him out again – in the hope that he did capitalise on the promise he has shown in recent years.

If Burke does not get back to the highest level, few West Ham fans are going to be rejoicing over a £1.5 million fee – especially when it is for a player who has such a long association with the club – but there is definitely the possibility that the Irons hierarchy will be left absolutely kicking themselves as he has the potential to prove a bargain signing for Hull.