In recent weeks, West Ham United have been linked strongly to a move for Vitesse striker Wilfried Bony – and rightly so, 26 goals in 24 games is an impressive record in the Dutch league, and with him being compared to the likes of Didier Drogba, what is there not to want?
Chairman David Sullivan admitted to the press after the Olympic Stadium announcement that he was meeting up with a striker and an agent on the Monday, and the press immediately speculated that it was Bony. It was an unusual step to take by Sullivan, I am sure he hasn’t told the press before when he is meeting a player and his agent. So why start now?
The quoted price is £14m. That is a lot of money, but I think he is worth he risk – if, of course, we can’t get Andy Carroll from Liverpool. Bony is quick, strong and knows where the goal is. He will be a handful for any defence in the world, and it would be good to see him in a claret and blue shirt.
But here is my problem. Where Bony is so keen to leave Holland in the summer, and where David Sullivan told the world he was meeting with a world class striker, the whole world become focussed on this player, and instead of competing with the likes of Everton and Fulham for his services, we are now competing with Chelsea and Juventus. Of course, if Chelsea and Juventus want him, they have the financial power, and the successful recent history to be able to attract who they want over West Ham.
Bony and his agent are fully aware of the game they are playing, they know if they say in the media that Bony wants to leave, that they will drum up business. Yes, they are meeting West Hams representatives, but I firmly believe this is their back up plan to show that the player is definitely willing to leave Vitesse this summer. So are Bony and his agent using West Ham? Are they saying to the press “there is a possibility of me moving to West Ham” when really, it’s just a means to get Bony in the shop window and show the bigger clubs that there is interest in him, and that they had better move quickly for him.
I see Twitter rumours everyday around potential transfer targets, but this is one target which genuinely excites me – however, it could turn into a similar situation to that of Demba Ba – another player who used us as a stepping stone and didn’t remain loyal when nobody else took the risk. I hope that the Chairmen sign Wilfried Bony – and I hope we sign him to a contract which doesn’t include a release clause!
COME ON YOU IRONS!!
By Chelmo Hammer
Follow me on Twitter: @ChelmoHammer
I think he is using us, the difference is, he won’t end up signing for us. Think you have been a bit tough on Ba, he didn’t come to England to play in the Championship and so I think it’s fair enough that he worked what he did in to his contract and then left us for Newcastle on a free. Harsh to blame him for that.
Hugh,
Ba had to sign for us as nobody would touch him with his dodgy knee. I don’t blame him for having the clause, but what I’m saying is, it was hardly a move whereby he planned on staying for the rest of his career. Relegation or not, he would have gone.
I think this is spot on and we won’t sign any decent players or not have a clause in a players contact that says if a club offers x amount at the next transfer window west ham has to let the player talk to that team until we move to the new stadium and offer bigger wages .
Chelmo…Players like Bony will attract the worlds best clubs with a goalscoring record like that so no surprise that hes been linked to everyone except Dagenham & Redbridge !! It will be a bonus if we get him so dont hold your breath !
Ba was a mercenary and used us…you are right. Stoke had rejected him and we took a gamble, saved him from Hoffenheim where he had caused a shed load of trouble trying to get away, signed a three year deal and then buggered off after 12 games. thats the sort of thing a fan wont forget ! Thats why contracts like Ba,s must never be offered ever again…you either want to play for West Ham or you dont. I have no time at all for the Ba,s of this world…good riddance.
Spot on Spence!
YES, we are being used and it won’t be the last time either!
This kind of transfer speculation doesn’t spark up any interest in me any more other than a glance or a headline read.
London is a glamorous destination for may players and the players and their agents use West Ham to rack up interest.
As Spence said if players aren’t interested in coming to West Ham United…. Good riddance!
I couldn’t give a flying about Ba and his career, he’s a mercenary in my book and used his clause without a moments hesitation or shame. We’ve had plenty of those players at West Ham and we don’t want any more!
Spot on Spence??
I’m sorry but have to disagree. Ba is a professional, his love for West Ham is different from a fans love. His agent was smart in getting his client a stepping stone into the EPL to establish himself and if West Ham hadn;t been the complete shambles it was under Avram Grant, we’d have stayed up and he would have stayed in Claret & Blue, propelling us into Europe….!??
Bony is a prospect, but Andy Carroll would be the better choice at this point.
Fair point….. But I’m NOT Ba’s agent!
Oops sorry about the repeated posts, failed & unable to post on several occasions.
Of course we are being used the same as every club is used by agents and the press play a big part as well. Agents should never have been allowed to infest the game. The PFA are the people who represent players interests in this country but perhaps not others so why are not transfers negotiated through them for a nominal fixed fee so that any profits made then remain in the game.
should not be agents should go through pfa,agents are just parasites.