There was a report yesterday evening, by Sports Mail online, that the club management are supposedly concerned at losing Enner Valencia and are in the process of lining up Swansea’s Gomis as a possible replacement. We always have to take news from that source with a pinch of salt, but if it is true, I really do dispair. How is Gomis an appropriate replacement for Valencia? It is not exactly replacing like-for-like, is it?
I personally disagree with swapping Valencia for Remy, but that is at least a reasonably viable proposition. Gomis replacing Valencia is a retrograde step for the club. It is such a unlikely move that I can only assume that it is an erroneous news story. But regardless, it still fills me with a certain degree of apprehension. One can only hope that the board rejects any Chelsea bids for Valencia and, if necessary, blocks any questionable incoming transfer deals. After all, the current manager is in the final year of his contract and we are not yet 100% certain that he will be in charge next season. In that situation, it is surely legitimate for the board to especially scrutinize and approve any major transfer moves in this January window.
It has also been reported that Stephen Hendrie will today be signing a pre-contract agreement with the club, His contract expires in June and David Sullivan has apparently smoothed Hamiliton’s ruffled feathers with a £1m compensation package. This, of course, means that Hendrie will see out the remainder of this season with Hamiliton and join West Ham for pre-season training. There are good reports on the youngster’s ability/potential and he is obviously being brought in to increase competition/cover at left-back. At a fee of £1m, the player is well worth a punt. It may, however, mean the end of Danny Potts’ tenure at the club. There are strong rumours of an approach by Blackpool FC to sign Potts. We shall see if that materialises before the window closes.
Elsewhere, Arsenal’s alleged interest in Winston Reid may have ended with their signing of Villrreal defender, Gabriel Paulista. So, if that is the case, that probably reduces Reid’s alternative London based options to just Spurs. Surely, in footballing terms, Reid would be better off signing the alleged £60k a week deal on the table to stay with the Hammers. Financially, it is obviously a different matter, with a Bosman move being very lucrative. The likes of Liverpool, Man Utd and Everton could still be interested. However, the much publicised north London interest could prove to be a red herring. Perhaps Reid has a a pre-contract agreed with a continental club? Do not be surprised if that is how it transpires. If Reid does leave (whatever his destination) it will be a great shame, but the club need to respond in the right way and just keep pushing forward. No player is bigger than the club and that is certainly the case with Winston Reid.
Finally, there are reports of a wholesale clear out of youngsters at U-21 level in the Academy. The U-21s have not performed well this season and there is obviously a process afoot to clear out the deadwood and create opportunities for the talent at U-18 and below to come through and develop. Considering that we have prospects like Oxford and Borg amongst that younger age group, that is perhaps an understandable move.
SJ. Chandos.