The 2020 summer transfer window was full of ups and downs for West Ham. It had it all – incomings, departures, potential ownership takeovers, all the way to disgruntled fans and players, and drama to within the final hour of the window.
There was a chaotic nature to everything going on, even the club’s scattergun hunt for a new centre-back.
Grady’s Goodbye
The turmoil started with West Ham academy graduate, Grady Diangana, moving to newly promoted side West Brom for a fee of £18m. The 22-year-old spent last season on loan with The Baggies in the Championship, helping them clinch promotion back to the Premier League.
The transfer led to angry reaction from the large majority of West Ham fans on social media, as well as club captain, Mark Noble, voicing his discontent on Twitter.
It was believed the England Under-21 player, not just his teammates, wanted him to stay at West Ham. This didn’t help owners David Gold and David Sullivan win back any of the popularity they lost with the fans, due to a perceived lack of progression at the club since the move to the London Stadium. Rumours about them selling the club continue to circulate.
A club statement on whufc.com at the time of the stadium move read:
“Money will be reinvested in the team, ensuring a balanced squad.”
The same statement also cited:
“[There will be] competition with the likes of Felipe Anderson, Michail Antonio, Pablo Fornals, Robert Snodgrass, Andriy Yarmolenko and Jarrod Bowen in [the] wide attacking position.”
Whether some of those players mentioned are actually wingers, is certainly debatable.
Negotiation Woes
Diangana wasn’t the only talented youngster to leave. The club also failed to agree a new contract for right-back, Jeremy Ngakia, who had made a surprising breakthrough into the first team, due to injuries within the squad.
It’s believed Ngakia and his agent made demands about wages and first team opportunities, which West Ham failed to meet. He left when his contract expired on 1st July, missing West Ham’s important run in at the end of last season.
Despite another highly rated right-back stepping up in Ben Johnson, it still left fans concerned about the long-term strategy. Fans were beginning to wonder – ‘what’s the point of the youth team?’ A long way from one of the club’s mottos – ‘Academy of Football’.
Also, the only way to get goalkeeping flop, Roberto and injury prone, Jack Wilshere out of the club, was to still pay a percentage of their high wages for the rest of the season. There wasn’t much to be positive about.
Centre-Back Search
However, with funds eventually brought in, the perplexing search for defenders started. There was a bid of £25m for Burnley’s right-footed centre-back James Tarkowski, then of £20m for Marseille’s Duje Caleta-Car.
Just as you believed, there was a recruitment policy to spend big on a central defender – that vanished. By deadline day they were going for Fikayo Tomori on loan. It then turned out, with an hour left of the window to go, Tomori had rejected the move due to manager David Moyes not being keen on signing him anyway. Therefore, giving a reason to question the cohesion on transfers between Moyes and Sullivan.
Success at Last?
By eventually relying on the domestic window, Craig Dawson was brought in on-loan to provide defensive cover. A long way from the supposed plan of spending big on a player expected to be a starter.
During the haphazard approach, there was still good business. Right-back, Vladimir Coufal, was signed for just £5m from Slavia Prague – the same team Tomas Soucek was signed from.
With a few games under his belt, he looks a real bargain. He’s a ‘warrior’ type of defender and is already becoming popular amongst supporters. Hammers season ticket holder, Finlay Jackson, said:
“I’m very impressed with him, hopefully like Soucek we’ve uncovered another Czech gem.”
Late Optimism
If you’re wondering where that £25m targeted at a defender went, it was spent on Brentford winger, Said Benrahma (going against the statement to invest in areas away from wingers, when Diangana left).
However, in typical West Ham fashion, there was deadline day drama, as Benrahma failed his medical. The deal looked off, but at the last minute an agreement was made for it to be a loan with an obligation to buy next summer.
The Algerian, whose style of play has been likened to Riyad Mahrez, lit up the Championship last season with 26 goal contributions. He has the potential to be a fantastic signing and is a much-needed addition, given Felipe Anderson has left for Porto on loan, after a dip in form and confidence.
Signs of Progression
Contrary to the turbulent summer, West Ham now look a solid outfit on the pitch, using a 3-4-3 set up that becomes a 5-4-1 out of possession in a defensive block. In the words of Declan Rice to Sky Sports:
“We’ve found a formation that works for us.”
Moyes has had the ‘Arnautovic effect’ on Michail Antonio, turning him into a brilliant striker. There’s also a perfect balance with Soucek and Rice in central midfield. Jarrod Bowen brings pace and Pablo Fornals offers creativity. Also, the likes of Arthur Masuaku, Aaron Cresswell and Angelo Ogbonna have all been in outstanding form.
Moyes’ team exhibited quality in defence and attack, defeating Wolves 4-0, then Leicester 3-0. They then showed fantastic character in the famous fight-back against Spurs to draw 3-3 from 3-0 down. It was then resilience and determination to hold onto a 1-1 draw against Man City.
It has been a chaotic transfer window at West Ham, complete with angry fans and frustrated players. However, now they seem to be on the up. Things can change quickly in football, as West Ham have shown through their negativity back in August to now the positivity come November.
