The smell of big money is in the air for West Ham majority owner David Sullivan and Tim Steidten and it’s emanating from Saudi.
The January transfer window proved rather underwhelming for West Ham.
West Ham fans were angered by the club’s lack of signings in the winter window.
But it proved to be the case across Europe as clubs aired on the side of caution over FFP rules.
David Moyes has admitted he wanted to bring in players – particularly a left-sided forward.
There have been reports of differences of opinion between the manager and technical director Tim Steidten over the likes of Ibrahim Osman.
West Ham not alone in quiet January window
The Ghanaian winger since being snapped up by Premier League rivals Brighton.
Only Kalvin Phillips arrived on loan.
And it is fair to say the move for the central midfielder – a position in which the Hammers were already well stocked – has been a disaster so far.
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A top source inside West Ham told me back in November that fringe players would have to be moved on to satisfy FFP rules regarding wages-to-turnover.
And so it proved with Thilo Kehrer, Conor Coventry, Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma departing.
Zouma, Aguerd and Cornet among those West Ham keen to offload
The lack of arrivals left West Ham with just 22 senior players – the joint lightest squad in the Premier League.
So the frustration of supporters has been understandable. Particularly given the golden opportunity that was in front of West Ham with fifth place likely to be rewarded with a spot in the new-look Champions League.
West Ham have made a decent net profit on transfers in the last two windows. That, combined with a lack of spending in January and – crucially – the start of a new three-year FFP cycle, should put the Hammers in a great position to spend come the summer transfer window.
But the owners will still be looking to offload a number of players from the first team squad such as inconsistent Nayef Aguerd, outcast Maxwel Cornet and injury-prone Kurt Zouma if recent reports are to be believed.
Indeed it was reported just last week by a journalist close to Moyes that West Ham have given up on £30m signing Aguerd and want to sell him this summer.
Well big money news from Saudi is music to the ears of David Sullivan and Steidten at West Ham.
Several of West Ham’s players have been linked with big money moves to the Middle East including Zouma, Aguerd, Cornet and Michail Antonio.
Relief for West Ham as Saudi gravy train gets back on track
But it looked like the Hammers may have missed out on the Saudi cash gravy train as the powers-that-be there reigned in spending in the winter window.
Many in the football media have been claiming the Saudi splurge was a one-off publicity stunt.
But West Ham’s hopes of landing decent pay days for the likes of Zouma, Aguerd and Cornet have been raised by new claims emerging from Saudi.
The Daily Mirror’s chief football write John Cross claims Saudi clubs are preparing to launch a fresh mega money assault on Premier League clubs for players.
That’s after vice-chair of the Saudi Pro League, Saad Al Lazeez, told the Financial Times’ Business of Football Summit they are ready to go again this summer.
“This is a long-term investment. We are not in it for a season,” he said.
“We are pleased with what has been achieved so far. In fact, I think we are a bit ahead of schedule,” he said, underlining the kingdom’s aim of pumping money into football as part of a broader strategy to diversify the economy.
Mo Salah is said to be the league’s top target.
And The Athletic has previously claimed signing top Muslim players like Aguerd, Zouma and Salah is a fundamental part of their recruitment strategy.
So the pound signs will be flashing in the eyes of Sullivan and Steidten.
Should the Hammers be able to offload those players then it could seriously swell the club’s transfer coffers for more and better quality signings.
