West Ham Transfer News: Andre Ayew sold back to Swansea

West Ham have sold former record signing Andre Ayew back to Swansea. The fee is reported to be around 18m.

After a lot of media noise it was a move that was always likely to happen. Andre Ayew has left West Ham for a fee just under what it cost us to bring him in. It’s not a move that completely shocks or upsets me, but they way it came about is irritating.

Only 18 months ago Ayew was hailed as a sign things were improving for the club. Here we were able to buy fellow Premier League clubs’ best players, and it was just the start. But now he’s returning to the club we bought him from and we’re signing a 10m untested striker from the Championship. It’s a sign of the times, and it’s a worrying one.

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Ayew never really hit form for us the way he did at Swansea, but he was still a solid player. He works hard and always looks to be putting in a shift. I certainly don’t think it worked out particularly well given the fee we paid out, but there are far worse buys in our recent history.

Over the last few years we have seen a worrying number of players come into the club and leave within two years. Whether that is an issue of man management, scouting or hierarchical problems is irrelevant. There are deep issues at the club that this high turnover is simply highlighting.

The money that Ayew’s sale brought in was not reinvested. That means that despite the club having the 17th highest turnover in the world, a new stadium and new tv rights money there has been an almost 0 net spend this season. That’s hardly the sign of a club on the up is it? Personally I have run out of patience with the board, but they don’t seem to be going anywhere. Maybe we can live in hope of a big summer investment. But I wouldn’t hold your breath.