Hammers boss Slaven Bilic has admitted how disappointed he was in the club’s inability to sign William Carvalho and Andre Gomes this summer.
West Ham appeared to be closing in on a move for Sporting Lisbon’s Carvalho on transfer deadline day, while Barcelona’s Gomes was also earmarked as a prime target. Yet deals for both players failed to materialise.
The failure to sign Carvalho led to co-owners David Gold and Sullivan involved in a war of words with Sporting’s hierarchy.
Bilic says he’s craved a top central-midfielder since he took charge for the East London outfit.
“I really wanted the player and it really looked like it was going to happen,” said the former Croatia manager (via Squawka). “I thought until the last minute that he was going to come. Why am I disappointed? I’m disappointed because we’ve been looking at that position for two years.
“For that crucial position for us he was ideal and it didn’t happen.
“One of the reasons we were offloading so many players was to raise the funds to get the budget for him and then when it didn’t happen you are frustrated. For me, if we tried everything that’s all we could have done.
West Ham are currently rooted to the foot of the Premier League after losing all three of their opening league games.
The Hammers have a crucial test at home to Huddersfield on Monday Night Football. It’s a game that if lost, could see Bilic face the sack.
