There was a buy-back clause that if Sheff Utd didn't survive then he went back to Villa for c. £15m, meaning Sheff Utd paid about £3m for the season but aren't saddled with the £18m purchase (and PL salary) on their books now that they are back in the EFL.
Ahh okay, That's quite smart really from Sheffield Uniteds stand point. Doubt he'd come here, He'd probably want a stable mid premier league team.
What’s their midfield room looking like now anyway? In terms of “Downes” type players can only think of JWP off the top of my head. Soucek must be ancient now and Phillips was only a loan deal. Quite possible they may need at least 2 or 3 in that position this summer (and Downes could be one of them). Also possible they realise how badly we probably want him and can get a much higher fee to invest on someone better
DM/CM I think they have JWP, Alvarez and Soucek. So if they sign Aleix Garcia or target someone else then Downes is really going to struggle to find game time at West Ham. Rightly or wrongly, I'd argue that he deserves to start for West Ham.
He’s obviously been great for us this season, much like he probably was for Swansea which convinced West Ham to sign him. But maybe he just isn’t a top half PL midfielder, which is what West Ham will be looking for. He did make a comment when he signed with us about it being great to play possession football again which might have been a bit of a dig at Moyes and him not fitting in. Lopetegui may want to take a look at him, he may not and trust that he is expendable especially for a large fee so he can spend on players he knows/prefers.
Omari Forson has rejected a new contract at Man Utd. Feels like a very Southampton signing in a position of relative need (all our wingers are better on the left for my money) . N.B I'd prefer we went after more experience after last time around - can just see us being in for him.
I can't actually see that Steinberg has even said that. Any know where these accounts are getting it from?
Still wish we gave tall Paul a chance. Frassr and Armstrong either side pinging in crosses. Far too often we have struggled firing crosses to Che and Adam who do not have the height or presence.
Maybe we should bid a couple of million Pound more for Garcia from Girona and happily step aside if we can get a quick deal done for Downes
