If you told the London Stadium faithful at the start of the window that this was how their squad would be shaping up going into the final month of the transfer window, even the most glass-half-full of Hammers supporters may have been tempted to do his best John W Henry impression and enquire about the contents of your cigarette.
Despite links with some of Europe’s biggest clubs, Edson Alvarez, Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta are all still West Ham United players.
In Luis Guilherme – the ‘extraordinary’ former Palmeiras winger – one of the most promising talents in Brazil now calls West Ham home. A proven Premier League operator has also arrived, ex-Wolves captain Max Kilman reuniting with Julen Lopetegui.
And, before the week comes to an end, the 2023 Europa Conference League winners could have three more signings through the door. Three stand-out, senior acquisitions all capable of slotting straight into Lopetegui’s first XI.
West Ham United close in on Dortmund’s Niclas Fullkrug
HITC understands that West Ham are closing in on Leeds talisman Crysencio Summerville.
The Championship Player of the Year – scorer of 21 goals last season – could be the right-winger The Hammers have been crying out for.
World Cup-winner Guido Rodriguez, the experienced free-agent, is also in discussions. HITC reported on Friday that West Ham had hi-jacked Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce deal for the one-time Barcelona target.
Niclas Fullkrug, meanwhile, may be the most transformative of the lot.
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Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been linked with a move to West Ham United all summer long.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka is incredibly close to joining West Ham this summer by all accounts, but nothing has been made official yet.
The 26-year-old fleet-footed right-back will be a huge upgrade on Vladimir Coufal at the London Stadium, if Julen Lopetegui manages to get a deal for him over the line.
However, the elephant in the room has to be addressed – the fact that he is seemingly only moving to the London Stadium because he’s been offered more money is a big concern.
Let’s hope that his performances render that concern as null and void.
He has absolutely everything we currently lack in the team, what with his explosive pace, energy levels and athleticism.
In my view, signing Wan-Bissaka for £15 million should be an absolute no-brainer for the Hammers, but it seems like the board are determined to get Manchester United to lower that fee.
And now the 20-time league winners are expecting West Ham to do something specific.
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Dortmund striker held out for Milan before accepting West Ham – the background
AC Milan are intent on signing another striker this summer, and it seems they are turning their attention away from Niclas Fullkrug. However, the German striker was ‘holding out’ for a move to Rossoneri, according to a report.
The idea of a three-prong strike force emerged at the beginning of 2024 when negotiations were underway with Olivier Giroud about a minimal role in the 2024/25 season, and whilst the Frenchman has departed, the idea very much remains.
At the beginning of the summer, the idea grew once more, and questions arose about which two strikers would arrive to complete the position. Since then, Alvaro Morata has joined, and rumour.
