Before I start I would again like to stress that the content of this column is based on rumours that I have read or been asked about today. I am merely responding to those rumours and trying to add inside information to them.
Rumour 1: Graziano Pelle could join the club. I know this sounds like a broken record but he is another forward that we have been keen on in the past. I know that both of the Sullivan lads speak highly of the player and that he is very much rated by the club. His agent has said he will remain in the Premier League but didn’t specify that it would be at Southampton, where he has fallen down the pecking order. This transfer would be a great one in my eyes and one I can imagine having a lot of substance.
Rumour 2: The club have given up on Lacazette. This is not true. As I have emphasised many times in my columns David Sullivan hasn’t made his billions by giving up. We are expected to up our offer for a third time and meet them halfway with an offer of around £37 million with clauses on top. The club are getting fed up with Lyon’s bargaining though and are trying to force their hand to deal soon. PSG seem to have lost all interest now so eventually Lyon will have to consider selling to us but we do not want to give in to Lyon’s demands.
Rumour 3: The club will have more transfer activity in the next few days. I believe that this is very likely to happen. There are a number of first teamers who could leave: Obiang, Valencia, Sakho and Tomkins being the obvious four. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of these leaves soon. As we brought you exclusively back on the 22nd May both Palace and Sunderland are interested in Tomkins and they could up their bids to land the player. I also expect Tore to finalise his move soon.
Rumour 4: M’Baye Niang is going to join the club from Milan: I can’t say that I have heard either way regarding this deal at the moment. All I can say is that we were interested in him a year or so ago and he flew over to England to meet David Sullivan. Upon meeting him, the chairman was said to be unimpressed with his attitude and was not keen to then bring him in. He may well have changed and the club revisited the deal but I am not convinced at all.
Rumour 5: Ritchie to join the club for £8m. As I said in yesterday’s round up this was far less likely than the Tore transfer and this has since been confirmed by the Boleyn Insider.
Rumour 6: Kit launch details. I can’t say much more other than the club plan to mark the occasion with another big launch.
Stay tuned until tomorrow – I have quite a big exclusive coming to the site. This is a big football event but one not connected to West Ham.
Can see Obiang, or Valencia leaving but Nooo to Sakho or Tomkin’s please, Obiang would be a shame, not really given a run Midfield options Payet, Samuelson, Lanzini, Antonio, Kouyate, Noble, Cullen, Browne etc. Valencia needs to play central to be at his best.