Winter '25/26 Transfer Rumours Thread

[stubbo-admin]

Well seems like with all these international breaks, and us languishing, the rumours of ins and outs are rife.

Chuck anything 'worthy' of discussion on this thread...

--------------

Incomings:

Pablo Felipe - €21m + €3m (Gil Vicente) | Forward
Valentin 'Taty' Castellanos - €26m + €4m (Lazio) | Forward
Adama Traore - £2m + £1m if stay up (Fulham) | Forward
Axel Disasi - Loan (Chelsea) | Centre Back
Keiber Lamadrid - £150k + £1m option | Attacking Mid

Outgoings:

Nicolas Füllkrug - 6 months loan (AC Milan)
Luis Guilherme - £17m + Sell On % (Sporting Lisbon)
George Earthy - 6 months loan (Bristol City)
Callum Marshall - 6 months loan (Bochum)
Andy Irving - 1.5m (Sparta Prague)
Guido Rodriguez - Undisclosed (Valencia)
Igor Julio - Loan Cancelled (Brighton)
James Ward Prowse - 6 months loan (Burnley)
Lucas Paqueta - £36.5m + Buy Back Clause (Flamengo)

[stubbo-admin]

Not like there are great CBs changing hands all over that we're missing out on. Maybe there just aren't good options available at prices that make sense, especially ones who want to join a team likely to get relegated.

[El Scorchio]

• I'm sure Traore gets done now AFCON is over and for a sensible deal.
• GK signing mystifies me. Unless it's someone really fucking good I just don't see the point in upsetting that apple cart yet again. Areola while not perfect is not the problem and is fine until the end of the season. It's a weird thing to get done before CB. It can't just be because he's not great with his feet?
• CB I am calling bullshit on with regard to it being Nuno's choice. Simply the player would be here by now if that were the full truth. It likely IS Nuno's choice- of strictly a selection of players Sullivan has foisted on him or OK'd beforehand. It's getting to a place though where it just needs fucking doing and we will end up 'grateful for anything' which I am sure is just how Sullivan wants it.

[stubbo-admin]

Latest summary of Ex's update.

- Lamadrid to sign tomorrow
- GK signing that is Nuno's pick very close
- Traore talks progressing with willingness to get deal done
- CB remains on the agenda, with the choice ultimately being Nuno's to make. 
 

[El Scorchio]

Won't disagree, but think we should cut them a bit of slack. Jan is a tricky window at the best of times, and for obvious reasons, given our perilous position, it makes it even more tricky. Then there is the Paqueta situation and they have dropped circa 50 mil this month, albeit recouped around 15 mil on the Brazilian going out and there was the Aguerd money from deadline day. Might get interesting IF we beat the mackems.

 

I agree this window is a very tricky one due to the mess we are in, but I have to point out that the mess is ALL of Sullivan's own making anyway. He's made it hard for us by allowing us to be in this situation in the first place.

Yes I am sure it's pretty difficult to get deals done in this situation but I find it hard to believe we couldn't have got a competent experienced centre back in on loan or a short term deal in 21 days. Instead of everyone pulling together you seem to have Sullivan reverting to doing his own thing and going after his own targets regardless of whether they are needed while the manager and Mendes are after others and we are in some sort of stalemate, with Sullivan once again resorting to leaking 'insider info' and articles and snippets pushing all the blame onto his latest manager to make them the problem and the scapegoat. This is why the club is so sick. Even in a crisis the owner can't swallow his pride, own his mistakes and get onside with the people he's employed.

Yep, no excuse for not bringing a CB in, although I see according to Hammers Chat it's Nuno that doesn't want a CB

Haha yes- Geo sums it up pretty well actually.
More like given the 'clever' economy with the truth Sullivan adopts Nuno doesn't want whatever shitty CB Sullivan is offering but in Sullivan spin that means he doesn't want ANY centre back. Which of course is bollocks. I'm quite sure Nuno knows exactly what centre backs he wants, and Sullivan knows exactly what centre backs HE wants, and he's unsuccessfully trying to push them on the manager who is standing fast over it while Sullivan doesn't want to sign who Nuno wants. It's happened several times with Bilic, Moyes, Potter. Why is it that ONLY at West Ham do managers- according to Sullivan- adopt a transfer paralysis? It's not a coincidence is it. There's going to be a stalemate over transfer targets and Sullivan is deciding to try and throw another manager under the bus and paint him to be the problem because of it when actually now of all times he needs to be listening to what is needed and back the manager rather than going rogue mainly because it's now too late to do anything else. It's a shambles.

Besides which he's shown repeatedly that he's more than happy to just ignore his manager and buy whoever he wants regardless (another big factor as to why we are where we are) so if that's the case just go out and do it now if you really must. You are the only person who can end the stalemate. Either get the manager what he's asking for or just go and buy a player anyway. Don't just do nothing and push all the blame onto the other party when it's at least 50/50.

As I said yesterday the inevitable toxic badmouthing in the press of another manager has started. Yesterday it was 'the manager doesn't want Wilson but I do, and I chose him and he's a success.' Today it's 'The manager can't decide on a centre back'. Tomorrow it'll be something else. And this is on the back of two wins. The club needs to be pulling together. The owner shouldn't be taking public swipes at the manager. Air your dirty fucking laundry in private and at least present a united front. It makes the club look ridiculous. Nowhere else does an owner say things like this about his manager. Nowhere. It's so petty.

I'm really hoping that unlike the other managers, Nuno is going to be prepared to not stay silent after he's inevitably sacked at the end of the season regardless of what division we are in.

Apologies for the rant. It's just ridiculous. 

[Sir Alf]

Sullivan’s “small man syndrome” he has had all his life, shapes his psychology, insecurity and inadequacies. For example, he essentially buys women and never has had a proper loving relationship has he?.  Surrogate mum for his kids.  This is not a well balanced, assured, contented individual despite the wealth.  He’s an absolute control freak another symptom as he has to elevate himself in every sense of the word. Has narcissitic mind tells him he knows best about everything, better than experts, managers etc

Until this psychologically disordered man steps down and / or is gone completely, West Ham as a business and footballing force is doomed to fail.  Its the only certainty. The one cup we got via COVID, Moyes was a happy accident as evidenced by the steep decline that set in by end of the 22/23 season and has taken us to brink. 16 years and most of them relegation struggles or fears.

[Manuel]

Yes, I am certain that's happening as well. What a way to run a transfer strategy. Week to week reactively depending on results. And he wonders why we are in this mess rooted to the bottom of the table in the first place. It's utter indecisiveness and fear. Just like with managers- all this 'three games' waffle that always comes out. The bloke can't commit to anything and is just scared of makiIng big decisions.

It happened in the summer as well. The transfer activity was purely reactive to the situation rather than proactive like almost every other club. Everyone else looks to strengthen even if they are doing ok. Sullivan sat on his hands the whole summer spending as little as possible until it got to the point the season had started and the midfield we had which we all already knew for six months was a huge point of weakness was blatantly getting us relegated without a whimper and then in the last week panic bought Fernandes and Magassa. It's a truly pathetic unprofessional and embarrassing way to run a club.

Won't disagree, but think we should cut them a bit of slack. Jan is a tricky window at the best of times, and for obvious reasons, given our perilous position, it makes it even more tricky. Then there is the Paqueta situation and they have dropped circa 50 mil this month, albeit recouped around 15 mil on the Brazilian going out and there was the Aguerd money from deadline day. Might get interesting IF we beat the mackems.

 

I agree this window is a very tricky one due to the mess we are in, but I have to point out that the mess is ALL of Sullivan's own making anyway. He's made it hard for us by allowing us to be in this situation in the first place.

Yes I am sure it's pretty difficult to get deals done in this situation but I find it hard to believe we couldn't have got a competent experienced centre back in on loan or a short term deal in 21 days. Instead of everyone pulling together you seem to have Sullivan reverting to doing his own thing and going after his own targets regardless of whether they are needed while the manager and Mendes are after others and we are in some sort of stalemate, with Sullivan once again resorting to leaking 'insider info' and articles and snippets pushing all the blame onto his latest manager to make them the problem and the scapegoat. This is why the club is so sick. Even in a crisis the owner can't swallow his pride, own his mistakes and get onside with the people he's employed.

Yep, no excuse for not bringing a CB in, although I see according to Hammers Chat it's Nuno that doesn't want a CB

[El Scorchio]

Just speculating, but could they be waiting to see if we beat Sunderland before spending more? As said almost 3 weeks and nothing has happened.

Yes, I am certain that's happening as well. What a way to run a transfer strategy. Week to week reactively depending on results. And he wonders why we are in this mess rooted to the bottom of the table in the first place. It's utter indecisiveness and fear. Just like with managers- all this 'three games' waffle that always comes out. The bloke can't commit to anything and is just scared of makiIng big decisions.

It happened in the summer as well. The transfer activity was purely reactive to the situation rather than proactive like almost every other club. Everyone else looks to strengthen even if they are doing ok. Sullivan sat on his hands the whole summer spending as little as possible until it got to the point the season had started and the midfield we had which we all already knew for six months was a huge point of weakness was blatantly getting us relegated without a whimper and then in the last week panic bought Fernandes and Magassa. It's a truly pathetic unprofessional and embarrassing way to run a club.

Won't disagree, but think we should cut them a bit of slack. Jan is a tricky window at the best of times, and for obvious reasons, given our perilous position, it makes it even more tricky. Then there is the Paqueta situation and they have dropped circa 50 mil this month, albeit recouped around 15 mil on the Brazilian going out and there was the Aguerd money from deadline day. Might get interesting IF we beat the mackems.

 

 

I agree this window is a very tricky one due to the mess we are in, but I have to point out that the mess is ALL of Sullivan's own making anyway. He's made it hard for us by allowing us to be in this situation in the first place.

Yes I am sure it's pretty difficult to get deals done in this situation but I find it hard to believe we couldn't have got a competent experienced centre back in on loan or a short term deal in 21 days. Instead of everyone pulling together you seem to have Sullivan reverting to doing his own thing and going after his own targets regardless of whether they are needed while the manager and Mendes are after others and we are in some sort of stalemate, with Sullivan once again resorting to leaking 'insider info' and articles and snippets pushing all the blame onto his latest manager to make them the problem and the scapegoat. This is why the club is so sick. Even in a crisis the owner can't swallow his pride, own his mistakes and get onside with the people he's employed.

[Mike Oxsaw]

If the January transfer window is difficult, it offers up the perfect opportunity for Sullivan to truly demonstrate that he is a true Master of the Art of Transfer.

He fucks up, his "ability" is there for the whole world to see.

[Manuel]

Just speculating, but could they be waiting to see if we beat Sunderland before spending more? As said almost 3 weeks and nothing has happened.

Yes, I am certain that's happening as well. What a way to run a transfer strategy. Week to week reactively depending on results. And he wonders why we are in this mess rooted to the bottom of the table in the first place. It's utter indecisiveness and fear. Just like with managers- all this 'three games' waffle that always comes out. The bloke can't commit to anything and is just scared of making big decisions.

It happened in the summer as well. The transfer activity was purely reactive to the situation rather than proactive like almost every other club. Everyone else looks to strengthen even if they are doing ok. Sullivan sat on his hands the whole summer spending as little as possible until it got to the point the season had started and the midfield we had which we all already knew for six months was a huge point of weakness was blatantly getting us relegated without a whimper and then in the last week panic bought Fernandes and Magassa. It's a truly pathetic unprofessional and embarrassing way to run a club.

Won't disagree, but think we should cut them a bit of slack. Jan is a tricky window at the best of times, and for obvious reasons, given our perilous position, it makes it even more tricky. Then there is the Paqueta situation and they have dropped circa 50 mil this month, albeit recouped around 15 mil on the Brazilian going out and there was the Aguerd money from deadline day. Might get interesting IF we beat the mackems.

[Dick Shaftsbury]

Clearly they're waiting for the end of the window, as that's when the bargains appear.

Sullivan hovering around the aisles in Tesco looking for the yellow stickers. 

[El Scorchio]

Clearly they're waiting for the end of the window, as that's when the bargains appear.

[Mad Ferret]

Clearly they're waiting for the end of the window, as that's when the bargains appear.

[El Scorchio]

Just speculating, but could they be waiting to see if we beat Sunderland before spending more? As said almost 3 weeks and nothing has happened.

Yes, I am certain that's happening as well. What a way to run a transfer strategy. Week to week reactively depending on results. And he wonders why we are in this mess rooted to the bottom of the table in the first place. It's utter indecisiveness and fear. Just like with managers- all this 'three games' waffle that always comes out. The bloke can't commit to anything and is just scared of making big decisions.

It happened in the summer as well. The transfer activity was purely reactive to the situation rather than proactive like almost every other club. Everyone else looks to strengthen even if they are doing ok. Sullivan sat on his hands the whole summer spending as little as possible until it got to the point the season had started and the midfield we had which we all already knew for six months was a huge point of weakness was blatantly getting us relegated without a whimper and then in the last week panic bought Fernandes and Magassa. It's a truly pathetic unprofessional and embarrassing way to run a club.

[El Scorchio]

This Lamadrid signing is pretty irrelevant isn't it, just basically a player we're taking on loan for peanuts to take a look at, probably won't even be in the first team squad so not much to get angry or annoyed about.. But seems to be happening anyway. 

Well, aside from the fact that Sullivan is buggering about going off an doing his own thing pursuing a player who will be of no use to us trying to stay in the division when he should be prioritising getting in players who will and it’s all been completely quiet on that front for almost three weeks. 

And you think if we hadn't done this one that would be different... It has no bearing on it at all, that's completely separate IMO

Probably not, but it's a distraction and just shows the disconnect both among the senior staff at the club, Sullivan going back on his words from September, AND the simple disconnect from reality Sullivan seems to have. He should be spending every waking hour dealing with players to help us now rather than a punt who likely will be levels below what's needed even for the championship and never even get on the pitch for us. I just find it a bit insulting. The player would almost certainly still be available in the summer. 

Seems he's more desperate to try and unveil a 'bargain' to say he can do it better than anyone else while the ship goes down around him.

Not a terrible idea in theory but fucking shocking timing.

[Council Scum]

Just speculating, but could they be waiting to see if we beat Sunderland before spending more? As said almost 3 weeks and nothing has happened.

 

January is hard isn't it, especially as we're not an attractive proposition.. Better players may be waiting for better offers... The two we got in probably weren't on any other clubs wishlists.. Oh and we're shit at this anyway. But there may be some truth in them holding fire too, yet the strikers came in straight away. 

if we win on Saturday and its a big IF, we will have a much better chance of bringing in new players in before the window closes.

I also feel Palace are gonna free fall and get sucked right back in. 

[Manuel]

Just speculating, but could they be waiting to see if we beat Sunderland before spending more? As said almost 3 weeks and nothing has happened.

Be interesting to know what result would encourage spending more, I suspect the wrest on their laurels if we beat Sunderland. They are cheap cunts.

​​​​​​I don't think we beat Sunderland though. It's got disappointing defeat written all over it. 

Yep, it would be typical. But I'm reasonably confident based on more confidence after 2 wins, the 2 forwards giving us more options, the CB's are looking better, and Sunderland have a poor away record.

[fraser]

Just speculating, but could they be waiting to see if we beat Sunderland before spending more? As said almost 3 weeks and nothing has happened.

 

 

January is hard isn't it, especially as we're not an attractive proposition.. Better players may be waiting for better offers... The two we got in probably weren't on any other clubs wishlists.. Oh and we're shit at this anyway. But there may be some truth in them holding fire too, yet the strikers came in straight away. 

[Vexed]

Just speculating, but could they be waiting to see if we beat Sunderland before spending more? As said almost 3 weeks and nothing has happened.

Be interesting to know what result would encourage spending more, I suspect the wrest on their laurels if we beat Sunderland. They are cheap cunts.

​​​​​​I don't think we beat Sunderland though. It's got disappointing defeat written all over it. 

[Manuel]

Just speculating, but could they be waiting to see if we beat Sunderland before spending more? As said almost 3 weeks and nothing has happened.

[fraser]

This Lamadrid signing is pretty irrelevant isn't it, just basically a player we're taking on loan for peanuts to take a look at, probably won't even be in the first team squad so not much to get angry or annoyed about.. But seems to be happening anyway. 

Well, aside from the fact that Sullivan is buggering about going off an doing his own thing pursuing a player who will be of no use to us trying to stay in the division when he should be prioritising getting in players who will and it’s all been completely quiet on that front for almost three weeks. 

And you think if we hadn't done this one that would be different... It has no bearing on it at all, that's completely separate IMO

[El Scorchio]

This Lamadrid signing is pretty irrelevant isn't it, just basically a player we're taking on loan for peanuts to take a look at, probably won't even be in the first team squad so not much to get angry or annoyed about.. But seems to be happening anyway. 

Well, aside from the fact that Sullivan is buggering about going off an doing his own thing pursuing a player who will be of no use to us trying to stay in the division when he should be prioritising getting in players who will and it’s all been completely quiet on that front for almost three weeks. 

[fraser]

This Lamadrid signing is pretty irrelevant isn't it, just basically a player we're taking on loan for peanuts to take a look at, probably won't even be in the first team squad so not much to get angry or annoyed about.. But seems to be happening anyway. 

[Mad Ferret]

Ha Lamadrid

[Tomshardware]

Carry on up the Keiber.  

[Keep dreaming]

Keiber Lamadrid, who the fuck is that? Another Silly loan special?
I'm sure he thought it was a player from Real Madrid...