Green Street Hammers
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Recent rumours show West Ham are back to scattergun approach

By Henry Tomlinson

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: West Ham United owners David Sullivan (L) and David Gold look on prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Fulham and West Ham United at Craven Cottage on December 26, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: West Ham United owners David Sullivan (L) and David Gold look on prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Fulham and West Ham United at Craven Cottage on December 26, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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West Ham have always seemed to struggle to decide on a clear philosophy when it comes to bringing players into the club.

When David Moyes returned to the club after his eighteen-month spell away, there was excitement by the project the scot spoke about building. Moyes came back to West Ham with the idea of replicating the success of Red Bull Leipzig in Germany.

The model Leipzig are built on is a straightforward one, buy young talent from lower leagues, develop them and sell them at a profit to reinvest in the team. This ‘Red Bull Project’ was something that brought fans around to Moyes and his position back as manager.

The promise of a plan from Moyes about building for the future and the suggested talent that would be brought in to the club was exciting. This meant fans forgave the fact he has the worst record as any West Ham manager ever.

At the start of the 2020 summer transfer window, the club were linked with many players that fit the bill. Eberechi Eze, Antonee Robinson, Matty Cash, Ollie Watkins and many more, but due to financial shortcomings, fans have had to see them all join Premier League rivals.

As well as seeing the club miss out on many targets, the club has also sold its own promising young star in Grady Diangana, much to the dismay of fans and players. The 22-year-old has shown why he was so highly-rated last season as he impresses already for West Brom. What was most confusing about the sale of Diangana was the fact that if he were not registered to West Ham, he certainly would have been a target.

West Bromwich Albion’s DR Congo-born English midfielder Grady Diangana shoots and scores during the English Premier League football match between Everton and West Bromwich Albion at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on September 19, 2020. (Photo by Alex Livesey / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ALEX LIVESEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
West Bromwich Albion’s DR Congo-born English midfielder Grady Diangana shoots and scores during the English Premier League football match between Everton and West Bromwich Albion at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on September 19, 2020. (Photo by Alex Livesey / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ALEX LIVESEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

It is clear to see that Moyes has had a change of heart on his project, or the current regime does not back him. It becomes even more apparent when looking at the recent players that are being linked to the club.

Players like James Tarkowski, Hans Vanaken, Jannik Vestergaard and Shane Duffy are currently being linked to the club but, are all far older than what was promised. If the club were successful in signing them, they would be very costly as they would need high wages, the selling clubs would demand hefty fees.

Once the purchasing financial outlay is sorted, the club would be very unlikely to make back their investment. The players would likely stay at the club for at least two seasons, meaning they would be thirty by the time the club may consider moving them on, but by then the value would be significantly lower.

That coupled with links to Welsey Fofana and a Greek defender (as per SkySports and ExWHUemplyee) shows that the club are back to a particular ‘scattergun‘ in its transfer approach. This approach has failed many times in the past and has shown very little chance of changing its success this time around.

dark. Next. West Ham Injury Update Ahead of Weekend Wolves Clash

There are only eleven days left of the current transfer window. Even though the club are yet to sign anyone, it could be about to become a lot worse for the Hammers as Chelsea are preparing to go all out for star player Declan Rice.