It’s not the Poyet signing some sections of supporters had mooted a few months ago.
Many fans were warming to growing media reports current Sunderland boss Gus Poyet was a target of the West Ham board to replace Sam Allardyce.
But after receiving the backing of David Gold and David Sullivan, Allardyce has set about sculpting his team for next season.
And the latest signing has been confirmed as Gus’ son, Diego, from Championship side Charlton Athletic.
The 19-year-old only broke into the Addicks’ first team in January 2014, but went on to win the club’s Player of the Year award after just 20 games.
He played mainly in a defensive position at the base of a three-man midfield. He has been described as “an industrious and tenacious midfielder blessed with an impressive range of passing”.
Whether he has a role in the West Ham first team from the outset remains to be seen.
He can be considered to be a direct replacement for the loss Jack Collison and Matt Taylor with the intention of playing him alongside Mark Noble.
But given the signing of the more experienced Cheikhou Kouyate, it is likely Poyet will work predominantly with the Development Squad in a bid to catch the manager’s eye.
The situation bears similarities to when the club signed Danny Whitehead last summer. In all correspondence he was listed as a transfer window signing, without actually ever going on to have any impact of the first team squad (bar the FA Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest).
However, the difference here is there has been a lot more media coverage around Poyet’s arrival. Hopefully, this is an indication of how highly he is rated and not just a reaction to his family name.
Given a number of teams were mentioned as being interested in him, it would suggest he is the real deal, and potentially a real coup for West Ham.
Allardyce is building a good squad now following the release of several fringe players, and indications are there could be cause for optimism ahead of the new season.
What many will agree though, is if Diego Poyet can be half the player his father was, he will prove to be a great signing.
