Sassuolo's 26 year old striker, Domenico Berardi, is the latest in an incredibly long line of forwards being 'linked' with West Ham, the source of news about this most recent supposed target is a well respected journalist. Now recently there have been so many reports from 'respected journalists' that it raises a journalistic question.
Matheus Fellipe Costa Pereira is a 25 year old Brazilian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or right winger. Given Hammers recent 'dalliance' with exotic Brazilian midfielder/wingers in the form of Felipe Anderson, a liaison which was catastrophically unsuccessful, why are fans clambering for the club to sign another player of exactly the same ilk?
Years ago Alex Ferguson shocked the domestic football fraternity by selecting Beckham, Giggs and Scholes for Manchester United's first team instead of buying in players at vastly inflated prices from other clubs. Ferguson's decision proved to be a masterstroke and set the cornerstone of what was to become their most successful era.
Hammers rarely used and rarely fully fit, Andriy Yarmolenko put himself in the shop window following his exploits during the Euro 2020 competition, consequently there are several 'interested parties' in acquiring the 32 year old Ukraine international.
Chelsea's desire to sell Tammy Abraham almost matches Hammers' need for a striker, so it should be a straight forward deal that can be arranged easily shouldn't it? Well somehow West Ham's 'above' average performance last season had led to the club being viewed as more of a serious local contender than either Tottenham or Arsenal.
Chelsea want to offer Tammy Abraham to Borussia Dortmund as part of their huge bid to sign Erling Haaland, the £150 Million valued 20 year old is the top summer transfer target for the Champions League winners, ahead of Romelu Lukaku and Tottenham's Harry Kane.
Having had their fingers burned, nay incinerated, with their signings of a catalogue of playing 'cripples', the West Ham hierarchy are obviously 'extremely concerned' with regards to future signings and to avoid similar mistakes. Now what seems a totally understandable course of action, does however have it's drawbacks.
Possibly as early as next week, the full extent of Manuel Pellegrin's disastrous spell in the east end will be coming to a conclusion, the club have already jettisoned Jack Wilshere, Sebastien Haller, Felipe Anderson, Albion Ajeti, not forgetting Roberto, the final departee scheduled is Andriy Yarmolenko.
When Christiano Ronaldo was at the height of his pomp during his time at Manchester United, their then manager, Alex Ferguson had a running battle with Real Madrid over their 'tapping up' of the Portuguese maestro. Ferguson famously described the Real Madrid board as "gangsters" and that he would not countenance doing any business with them, however they eventually got their man, despite Manchester United's enormous financial resources.
Firstly we would churlish to criticise Gareth Southgate's management of an England team that nearly won their first International tournament final for 55 years, the team, the coaching staff and the manager took their country to within touching distance of greatness only to fall at the last hurdle on penalties.