West Ham have missed out on the signing of Henry Onyekuru. The youngster is set to join Everton after a season’s loan at Anderlecht.
This isn’t great news for West Ham, because this has been bubbling around for a while. With rumours linking him to East London for a few weeks, to have Everton only mentioned at the 11th hour and them to come in and sweep him up is very frustrating. These are the clubs that we’re competing with, and there in lies the issue.
Whilst Everton did better than us last season, and we did better the season before. We’re both offering something similar, especially if the player is going back on loan for a year. Everton fans were quick to tell me on twitter that their club is better because they’re historic, but for a player looking to get first team football that’s fairly irrelevant. Only the next 5 years matter. And the fact Onyekuru chose Everton is worrying.
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Rock And Hard Place
When trying to sign a player to improve your squad, you almost inevitably have competition. Other teams around the same standard will be improved by similar players. So you have to convince them your team is the best team to be involved in. West Ham couldn’t do that in a couple of weeks, but Everton managed it very quickly.
I think this is in part due to the club’s refusal, or at least reluctance, to play youngsters at the current time. They need first team football to keep them around but the club are only interested in progressing now. Everton have got youngsters in and around the first team and seen them improve massively, and I think they should be applauded for that. Onyekuru has seen that and been encouraged.
Obviously it’s hard for the club to compete with the likes of United or Chelsea if a player wants that sort of club. However if the player snubs Arsenal looking for first team football, like Onyekuru did, then the Hammers must act faster. We must realize our place in the hierarchy and use it to our advantage.
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So when I tweeted about the state of West Ham if they lose a player to Everton who appeared at the last minute I was referring to us as a negotiating body, not to do Everton any disrespect. Although there are some fragile ego’s on twitter if my mentions are anything to go by. The Hammers must step up this summer, and not get caught up trying to play a club bigger than we are.