Eurgh. Bet they hold up the Downes deal so they can use it as leverage to get KWP. Would be a very West Ham thing to do.
Makes more sense to sell him then buy Downes for the same price rather than swap to fudge FFP I think
TBH if we can get Sugawara in from AZ and get Downes as well, losing KWP won't hurt much. Sugawara is an excellent RB.
Difficult to know their values really. KWP is experienced and proven at PL level and we don't want to sell him. However, he only has a year left on his contract. Downes is unknown at PL level and West Ham don't want him, but his contract is until 2027. I think KWP should be worth more tbh but don't know if that's just with Saints tinted glasses.
DM is a much more vital position than RB. As much as I want to keep KWP, if we can do this swap then we absolutely have to. Sadly. Would absolutely love to keep both though.
I guess it will also depend on who are possible targets for both positions. If we have a list of 3/4 RBs and not many DMs we think are attainable and good then it makes sense to let KWP go and get Downes. If we have 3/4 DM options then we try and keep KWP and if that ****s up the Downes deal then so be it. I’m still in the mindset that the best option is that we keep KWP for his last year and let him go on a free such is the state of the squad.
Depends on the system. If we are going to lay 3-5-2 then the wing backs are vital. KWP is a perfect wing back and can play both sides. Shouldn't let him go without a bidding war (if possible).
Some other rumours around the PL for anyone interested Everton looking to sign Willy Gnonto from Leeds for £20m Everton selling Ben Godfrey to Atalanta for £10m Ipswich in talks to sign Omari Hutchinson permanently from Chelsea for £25m Wolves close to signing striker Jacob Strand Larsen from Celta Vigo for €30m Wolves also signing right back Pedro Lima from Sport Recife in Brazil for €8m Brighton in talks to sign Kiernan Dewsbury Hall for £25m and Jakub Molder going to Leicester. Chelsea apparently also want him so might make a move too Moussa Diakhate leaving Forest to Lyon for £26m
I wonder what will happen if Downes decided he wants to stay at West Ham. While the deals may be officially negotiated separately it would surely have an impact on our willingness to sell KWP and it would certainly up the price.
KWP to West Ham in the Downes deal has made too much sense for a while. I'd love him to stay but if he doesn't want to and we can use him as leverage to get Downes then we are definitely right to.
Plus I think Sugawara would be an excellent replacement. He's actually very similar to KWP in how he plays, only younger.
Yes the only thing that would have stopped this is if he was not interested in going there. But that doesn’t seem to be the case
