West Ham’s imminent signing of Ryan Fredericks from Fulham is proof David Sullivan still calls all the shots, according to a reliable journalist.
Sun correspondent Neil Ashton claimed in a column in the newspaper today that the Hammers’ pursuit of the right-back, 25, under ex-boss David Moyes and now Pellegrini shows how owner Sullivan pulls all the strings.
In a sarcastic appraisal of West Ham’s transfer movements, Ashton explained the real power behind the throne despite the change of managers.
“Pellegrini has only been in the West Ham job five minutes — but is already on the same page as co-owner David Sullivan,” wrote Ashton in the Sun. “Fredericks was on the Hammers’ radar when David Moyes was still scrapping to get the club away from relegation.
“Moyes always insisted he wanted total control of all transfers in and out of the London Stadium as part of the deal to bring him in as manager.
“Chilean Pellegrini has spent the past two years coaching Hebei China Fortune on the other side of the world. Now he has suddenly revived West Ham’s interest in the 25-year-old full-back. Amazing, that.”
OPINION
The managers come and go, and so do the recruitment chiefs. But one thing stays the same at West Ham. Sullivan is the puppet-master pulling all the transfer strings. He works the phone day and night, taking the calls from agents trying to pump players to his club, talking numbers and constantly looking to do a deal. It must be exhausting. And it must be immensely frustrating for those he appoints to get results on the pitch. The Hammers co-owner talked last season of taking a step back and letting the manager take control of transfers. Of course, it was just that. Talk. Sullivan has no intention of letting that happen. The club are working on bringing in a new technical director, but it appears his job will merely be to head up the scouting network and come up with player shortlists. An important job, but far from that of an actual director of football. The real power at West Ham is Sullivan, and that won’t ever change.
