David Sullivan – CaughtOffside

West Ham open to selling 27-year-old ace for just £12m

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 11:53:36 +0000

As they look towards the January transfer window in order to be able to acquire a new striker, West Ham could be set to offload at least one player to free up space in the squad and the wage bill.

The Hammers haven’t had a poor season by any stretch at this stage, but they are teetering in mid-table after a bit of a blip, and the second half of the campaign really could go one of two ways, depending on how well they work the market in the new year.

A striker is an absolute priority for the team, someone who is a guarantee of goals. In order to help find and pay for just such an exponent, Thilo Kehrer could be one player that makes way.

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Claret and Hugh are reporting that the Irons will let the 27-year-old German go for as little as £12m in January, which in the current climate is likely to prove to be a bargain that many clubs can’t refuse.

According to WhoScored, the player has only played for 361 minutes in total this season at West Ham, with just 18 of them coming in the Premier League.

It’s clearly in the player’s own interests to get a move away at the soonest opportunity too, though the east Londoners are prepared to wait until next summer to cash in if no offers arrive in the meantime.

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West Ham in talks for London Stadium naming rights with financial giants

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 10:52:06 +0000

When West Ham left Upton Park it represented the end of an era for the club, and it’s already been seven years since they pitched up at the London Stadium.

Previously known as the Olympic Stadium because of hosting the 2012 games, the stadium also hosts baseball games and concerts during the summer and, despite not really being built for football, is still an iconic London venue.

Not far from the business district of London’s Docklands area, and right by one of the main rail lines into the capital, the stadium can be seen for miles around.

Perhaps that’s why a huge financial institution are looking to do a deal with the Hammers regarding naming rights.

The Emirates Stadium, Etihad Stadium, Spotify Camp Nou and others all benefit from the association of having a brand leader aligned with them.

According to the Daily Mail via West Ham Zone, financial giant, Allianz, who also have the naming rights for Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena, are in talks with the east Londoners.

If successful, it would lead to a potential £20m deal over five years, meaning that the company would pay £4m per season for the privilege.

The Olympic Stadium and London Stadium names have arguably never really enthused the West Ham match-going public, and whilst a re-brand might well go over their heads too, it would at least help the club in a marketing sense.

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“It’s my home” – Highly-rated manager excited by West Ham prospect

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 16:40:09 +0000

West Ham’s season under David Moyes isn’t perhaps going as well as everyone might’ve expected, given the way in which the Hammers ended 2022/23.

The Europa Conference League title was a real high point in the club’s history but since then things have steadily started to go downhill.

At the time of writing, the east Londoners are in 12th position, but only three points off of 16th.

The way in which Moyes has the team playing appears to be a bone of contention with the London Stadium faithful too.

They’re used to flair players and attacking football rather than journeymen that can grind out results.

Perhaps that’s why Will Still hasn’t ruled himself out of taken over at the club should Moyes be sent packing at the end of the current campaign.

Still, 31, is manager of Reims and a confirmed West Ham nut.

“I would think twice about (taking the West Ham job),” he said to Sud Info when the question of if he’d like to take the reins in east London was put to him.

“But would I be able to (turn it down)? I would feel too guilty if I lost (as manager of West Ham). But the Premier League and Europe are clearly two big objectives.

“In the short term, I want to complete a full season with Reims and finish as high as possible. As for the future, that’s my problem. I never had a career plan. I take what comes.

“But I admit that the little child in me wants to return to England. It’s my home, it’s my league. The best in the world. I have always been a West Ham supporter.”

At just 31 years of age, for the West Ham board to even consider his candidacy would be a real departure for them.

Arguably that’s what’s needed in any event, whether Still is the chosen one or not.

Moyes has been successful in the sense that he’s taken the Hammers to sixth and seventh place finishes in the Premier League as well as delivering the club’s first trophy in 43 years.

There’s an argument as to whether anyone could improve upon that given the resources available, however, the Hammers have been far too flat of late and a change may give the first-team the impetus it needs to become a real force domestically and on the continent.

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David Sullivan personally set to hold talks with young striker

Magnus Eriksen — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 11:32:19 +0000

West Ham United chief David Sullivan is reportedly set to step up efforts to keep Divin Mubama by holding personal talks over a new contract for the striker.

The talented 19-year-old has risen up through the West Ham academy and looks like he could have a big future in the game, though he’s yet to establish himself in the first-team.

That could mean Mubama looks elsewhere in order to get his career going, but it seems the Hammers are keen to keep hold of him.

David Sullivan man claims 24-year-old is set for West Ham return

Magnus Eriksen — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 11:11:18 +0000

A source close to West Ham United chief David Sullivan has reportedly claimed that Flynn Downes will return to the club from his loan spell at Southampton.

Although Downes hasn’t seen much playing time for the Hammers, it seems he remains part of the first-team picture, and his loan to the St Mary’s Stadium is not necessarily paving the way for him to leave permanently.

Downes has impressed during his time with Southampton so far, so West Ham fans will no doubt be keen to see the 24-year-old returning to the London Stadium soon enough.

West Ham could renew approach for Jose Mourinho who will leave Roma in the summer

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 07:18:33 +0000

At the end of the current season, the ‘Special One’ Jose Mourinho is expected to call time on his stint at Italian giants Roma.

The Portuguese’s contract is up at the end of the 2023/24 Serie A campaign, and he’s unlikely to renew, particularly as he’s finding it more difficult this season to get a tune out of his Giallorossi players.

Indeed, TeamTalk suggest he will definitely leave the club next summer.

At present, the club find themselves in seventh position in the Italian top-flight, already a whopping eight points behind leaders, Inter Milan.

A new challenge clearly awaits with a move back to the Premier League a distinct possibility.

Back in March, LaRoma24 detailed a remarkable offer that West Ham apparently made to Mourinho, who was left flattered by the approach but turned it down because his focus remained on Roma.

Now that situation has clearly changed, and with the Hammers actively looking for a replacement for Moyes according to Football Insider, it could be an opportune moment for Mourinho to continue his love affair with the English top-flight and in a city he knows well.

Certainly, if West Ham want to continue on an upward trajectory and not allow their Europa Conference League title win to become another ‘once in a lifetime’ experience, then a move for the Special One makes perfect sense.

Funds will clearly need to be invested into the team in order for Mourinho to be assuaged by the project, but as the club showed in the past transfer window, money will be made available for the right players.

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Villa result will ensure West Ham draw up time frame to make a decision on David Moyes future

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 10:43:20 +0000

The stunning 4-1 reverse at Villa Park this past weekend will have done nothing for David Moyes’ credibility at West Ham.

After an epic Europa Conference League final win last season, and a reasonable enough start to the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, the Hammers have lost their way a little and dropped down to ninth in the table.

Their current form has echoes of what happened for a large part of the 2022/23 campaign before Moyes and his side managed to get the results required to end the season on a high.

With four high-profile summer signings, however, the club hierarchy could rightly expect that the team should be further forward in their development.

According to Football Insider, a decision from Moyes as to whether to quit the club is looming and is expected to come later in the season.

David Sullivan may well bring his time at the club to an end beforehand if results and performance levels continue to drop below acceptable standards.

Moyes’ contract is believed to be up at the end of the season in any event, so the club may decide to wait until then in order to not have to pay up any remaining months that they’d owe the manager if they dispensed with his services before the final game.

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West Ham looking to offload fan favourite with 236 appearances in January

Jason Pettigrove — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 10:14:50 +0000

As West Ham continue to progress under David Moyes, squad evolution remains an important matter for the east Londoners.

Continuous improvement means that certain players that have got the Hammers to this point under the Scot may well be dispensed with in order that the club can bring in either younger or better players.

The Europa Conference League title win shouldn’t be seen as the end point of West Ham’s aspirations, rather it needs to be the beginning of something special for the club.

If they’re able to build up a head of steam both on and off the pitch, the ECL win against Fiorentina might be looked back upon as a watershed moment in the club’s history.

There’s no denying that the four players the club purchased in the summer – James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alvarez, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Mohammed Kudus – have worked out well.

Adding one or two more with similar quality will arguably make the Irons a real force domestically and in Europe, but in order for that to happen, some sales will need to be made.

Claret and Hugh have listed those who are expected to be moved on, one of whom is fan favourite, Angelo Ogbonna.

With 236 appearances for the club per transfermarkt, he’s been a real stalwart over recent years, however, he’s getting no younger and his form this season has seemingly gone out of the window.

It could be just the right time for a clean break for both parties.

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West Ham have already made a decision on the future of Vladimir Coufal

Jason Pettigrove — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 11:48:36 +0000

Ever since he arrived at West Ham United, Vladimir Coufal has been a fan favourite, something the official club website even noted when paying tribute to him achieving a century of games for the club.

The east London faithful like nothing more than seeing their players give 100 percent every week, and Coufal can’t ever be accused of not putting everything on the line for the Hammers cause.

Such commitment is coveted by football managers the world over, though David Moyes will be aware that the player will be 32 at the beginning of next season.

Not to mention that his current contract will finish at the end of the current campaign.

There is the opportunity for the Hammers to extend Coufal’s deal by 12 months, however, rumours have been swirling as to what the club are actually going to do next regarding the Czech defender.

According to Claret and Hugh, it seems they’ve already made a definitive decision.

“He has a year left (this season) and we have a year’s option that we will take up in due course,” the outlet report a club source as saying.

That’s bound to delight both Moyes and the supporters as the club look to ensure stability over the coming years.

Whilst the squad will almost certainly evolve and some players will leave, Coufal can at least now be safe in the knowledge that he will get the contract that Claret and Hugh mention that he ‘is near certain to accept.’

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West Ham create new plan to stop player from leaving

Jason Pettigrove — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 10:58:26 +0000

With West Ham doing so well this season, the last thing that David Moyes will want is for any of his stars to consider moving on to pastures new.

The Scot masterminded an epic Europa Conference League victory over Fiorentina at the end of last season, and the Hammers have carried over their form into 2023/24.

Though they’ve been without the services of former captain, Declan Rice, after his then British transfer record deal to Arsenal, West Ham haven’t looked any weaker in games.

In fact, with a bit more luck they could’ve got a positive result in the only matches they’ve lost this season against Liverpool and Man City.

Key to their consistency has been the form of a number of players, and perhaps none more so than new holder of the armband, Kurt Zouma.

His towering presence at both ends of the pitch has helped the Hammers overcome a number of challenges so far this season, but it’s that kind of form that has apparently alerted the Saudi Pro League to the possibility of acquiring a player that only has 18 months left on his current contract.

However, it appears any interest from clubs in the Emirates is destined to end in disappointment, with Football Insider sources noting that the Hammers are preparing to offer Zouma a new deal in order to stop him from leaving the club.

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