OPINION
West Ham got the ball rolling on their shopping spree by confirming Ryan Frederick’s signature had been captured and now it’s time to set their sights on making the signing of the summer.
The Hammers confirmed that they had successfully poached Fulham’s speed machine via the club’s website on Tuesday and that already puts them a step ahead of their Premier League rivals.
Several clubs are yet to get any successful deals across the line and the London-based side must use their momentum to speed past everyone of their fellow top-flight teams in the race for Norwich City’s James Maddison.
The Daily Mirror’s Live Transfer Blog (Tuesday, 12:06) claimed that Premier League new boys Fulham had joined Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Southampton in the running to sign one of the brightest English talents currently regularly playing senior football.
In fact Maddison is one of the most exciting prospect to emerge in the most recent season as the 21-year-old attacking midfielder demonstrates a creative flair that more experienced players can only dream of.
The Hammers could easily welcome him to the London Stadium to be a key member of Manuel Pellegrini’s revolution as the new boss hopefully looks to unleash attacking football for fans to enjoy next season.
According to the Mirror’s update, Norwich would be willing to see their talented playmaker go for a fee in the region of £20million-£25million and given his ability that’s a bargain.
Maddison turned on the style for the Championship strugglers last season as he fired home 15 goals, while creating 11, in his 49 outings to take the league by storm.
Given his age and the fact he was playing for an under-performing team, that was only a mere glimpse of his true potential being unleashed.
With a manager like Pellegrini guiding him and being exposed to Premier League football, the dazzling creative talent will be the signing of the summer and it’s just a case of which club gets that honour.
So with one deal done and the Hammers not messing around in this window, the club must join and win the reportedly packed hunt for the 21-year-old’s services to ensure they’re the side that make the signing of the summer.
