With the transfer window closure date looming ever closer, West Ham manager Sam Allardyce can look back at his most recently signed transfers with a head held high this season.
Despite an initial loss to Tottenham Hotspur, The Irons came back with a vengeance during a stunning 3-1 away defeat to Crystal Palace. In particular, new boy Mauro Zárate can pat himself on the back for his contributions to the game at Selhurst Park. One questions, however, whether or not the signing of Antonio Rüdiger would have guaranteed the boys a full winning streak so far.
West Ham have already made seven transfers this summer – Anderlecht’s Cheikhou Kouyaté, Ipswich Town’s Aaron Cresswell, Vélez Sarsfield’s Mauro Zárate, Charlton Athletic’s Diego Poyet, Metz’s Diafra Sakho, Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson (on loan) and Pachuca’s Enner Valencia. With £20 million left in his budget, Allardyce made the final touches with Valencia, but had to suffer the embarrassment of a rejected bid for Rüdiger.
In July, it was rumoured that Allardyce had offered the VfB Stuttgart centre back a sum of around £8 million for a transfer to the Premier League team. Rüdiger has previously expressed interest in joining a Premier League team, but has since rejected the offer. Porto were also reportedly interested in signing the 21-year-old star.
Now, Rüdiger is seeing interest from Monaco, but he’s made it clear that he won’t be moved for an easy price. The wealthy French outfit have reportedly already had a £12 million bid rejected for the star, but are already considering re-negotiations following the embarrassment.
Monaco are not the only team to be snubbed this summer. The Hammers had already suffered the embarrassment of a rejection from FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk’s Yevhen Konoplyanka, who was offered £9.5 million to join the team. It was alleged that the 24-year-old winger had a minimum £12 million release clause in his contract, which was almost met by Liverpool in January, but as yet no move has been made.
Rejecting offers on a financial basis could ultimately be Rüdiger’s downfall however – if he is serious about his Premier League dream, then he may have to re-evaluate his long term goals. At just 21 years of age, he would do well to start at an eighth place Premier League team, who could nurture him to international greatness. It’s rumoured now that Chelsea are considering purchasing the star, but such a high profile move could be too much pressure for Rüdiger.
The Hammers’ transfers as they stand have already dramatically improved their odds of winning the Premier League, and it could just be that Rüdiger’s loss is West Ham’s gain.
