Winter '25/26 Transfer Rumours Thread

[stubbo-admin]

Well seems like with all these international breaks, and us languishing, the rumours of ins and outs are rife.

Chuck anything 'worthy' of discussion on this thread...

--------------

Incomings:

Pablo Felipe - €21m + €3m (Gil Vicente) | Forward
Valentin 'Taty' Castellanos - €26m + €4m (Lazio) | Forward
Adama Traore - £2m + £1m if stay up (Fulham) | Forward
Axel Disasi - Loan (Chelsea) | Centre Back
Keiber Lamadrid - £150k + £1m option | Attacking Mid

Outgoings:

Nicolas Füllkrug - 6 months loan (AC Milan)
Luis Guilherme - £17m + Sell On % (Sporting Lisbon)
George Earthy - 6 months loan (Bristol City)
Callum Marshall - 6 months loan (Bochum)
Andy Irving - 1.5m (Sparta Prague)
Guido Rodriguez - Undisclosed (Valencia)
Igor Julio - Loan Cancelled (Brighton)
James Ward Prowse - 6 months loan (Burnley)
Lucas Paqueta - £36.5m + Buy Back Clause (Flamengo)

[Massive Attack]

We've recalled Kaelan Casey from Swansea due to lack of game time.
Probably send him out somewhere else.

 

 

Could have called him back in time to play in the Cup game vs QPR and see how he got on for us instead of WBA against familiar Championship opposition if they had been thinking this in mind recently. It's not to say it would necessarily be an answer, it's more the point not exploring every avenue you have to see what can be achieved and sometimes bringing back a loanee can see a change in them that suddenly clicks and there wouldn't be much harm in trying. A player that had already played against Prem opposition this season beating Forest for Swansea. 

Thick as fuck management - BS Trademark.

[Alan]

Sport Witness

West Ham linked to Flamengo attacker – Paquetá backdrop adds extra context to reports



Reports linking West Ham United to Gonzalo Plata surfaced over the past few hours. They came from outlets in Brazil and Ecuador.

On the surface, they point to fresh Premier League interest in the Flamengo attacker. They also mention higher wages and a sizeable transfer fee.

However, when read together, the timing stands out.

The same stories place the move within a wider context involving Lucas Paquetá. Flamengo have shown a clear desire to bring him back from London – and the player reportedly wants to go home too. Because of that, the Plata angle carries an obvious subtext.

Bolavip reports that West Ham would be willing to open their wallets for Gonzalo Plata. The club would increase his salary and meet an asking price close to €25m. The 25-year-old is described as intense and hard-working.

Last season he played 50 matches across a variety of positions, including forward, attacking midfield and right wing.

The reports highlight his off-the-ball work and defensive contribution. Those traits are framed as a good fit for West Ham’s current needs.

At the same time, the same outlets stress Flamengo’s interest in Paquetá. They also mention internal considerations that could make Plata available. When combined, the story looks less like a standalone chase. And they do play in similar positions after all. Instead, it feels like part of a wider effort to align interests on both sides.

West Ham could get Gonzalo Plata as part of deal

From the outside, this resembles a familiar market pattern. Flamengo want Paquetá. West Ham need financial flexibility. As a result, players like Plata quickly enter the conversation.

For now, it remains talk rather than action. Even so, Brazilian and South American reports are clearly pushing the connection. What happens next remains to be seen.

West Ham need all the help they can get in the coming months. Should Nuno Espirito Santo believe Gonzalo Plata can assist the team then it certainly has to be a consideration.

[Alan]

We've recalled Kaelan Casey from Swansea due to lack of game time.
Probably send him out somewhere else.

[Far Cough UKunt]

It's a goodnight from me and a goodnight from him.

[Rossal]

Leeds signing Buonatte on loan from Brighton.   Good signing that 

[Westham67]

Romano. 


Lucas Paqueta Agrees Terms with Flamengo for West Ham Exit, Club Open to Exit

[Mike Oxsaw]

If having dickheads associated with your club was an Olympic sport, we'd clean up on the medals table every day.

[Massive Attack]

But we've been here before Alf with Payet. No one would say that wasn't him downing tools forcing a move - his own words - and yet people (normally those that rate Paqueta) want to believe this ain't the actions of a loveable twice suspended, petulant, diving, betting scandal nightmare of a player this season but the actions of Sullivan. If it walks like a dickhead, talks like a dickhead and requests to sit out a QPR Cup match like a dickhead because they're so selfish and desperate to leave, then it's another proper dickhead.

 

[Sir Alf]

Not saying Paq doesnt want to leave ideally in his head ( go back home, leave failing team etc ) but the “onstrike” bit is Sullivan wanting to sell him and in so doing “throw in the towel” on survival.  By painting Paqueta as going on strike it means Sully avoids the backlash from West H fans for selling him.   Point is selling covers the cost of the 2 strikers brought in last week. If we had shelled out on a CB quickly and for decent money ( even an expensive loan)  this week I might be convinced Sully still thinks survival is possible but nah it looks like ( actions ) hes given up and its about cost reduction and recouping money. Just an opinion. Only time will tell but a distressed Spurs next and possible chance of points? Id be trying hard to get a CB and CM, goalkeeper asap etc.  
 

[Massive Attack]

Sullivan wants to sell him for as much as poss so likely putting out stories that he is on strike refusing to pay.  Sullivan has given up in survival. Now focused on recouping the money spent on Pablo and Castellanos.  Imo

That doesn't make sense. You don't fork out £50M plus Prem wages on 2 new Strikers,  as well as hire more Coaches mid-season in preparation of Championship Football next season. 

Maybe, just maybe Paqueta desperately wants out, has done for a long time now and has always been selfish jn his actions. Hiding behind Sullivan as an excuse for him ain't going to wash. Sullivans an undoubted cսnt for many reasons but this one whichever way it's looked at stinks of Paqueta 'acting the dickhead' trying to force a move, echoes of the Payet playbook around a similar time of year. I suppose that was all Sullivan as well..

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foo ... eradlayout

Paquetas Agent had probably thumbed through Payets dickhead brochure over Christmas of, How to escape a West Ham nightmare.

[Sir Alf]

Sullivan wants to sell him for as much as poss so likely putting out stories that he is on strike refusing to pay.  Sullivan has given up in survival. Now focused on recouping the money spent on Pablo and Castellanos.  Imo

[Massive Attack]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... n-flamengo

This is all completely made up bollocks then? Both the Manager and Club have been clear they want him to stay and play and yet we should believe it isn't Paqueta not wanting to play or stay, even though it's common knowledge he desperately wants out for a return back to Flamengo. 

 

[stubbo-admin]

Paqueta has painted himself in to being a villain by requesting not to play against QPR and pushing for a move to Flamengo. Couple that with also knowing how ill disciplined he has been on the pitch this season when we've needed him most, as well as arguably blag getting away with a high profile betting scandal that rocked us as a Football Club he comes across as a right cսnt all of his own doing.

This statement "requesting not to play"....it's all a bit unconfirmed that is legit given he's injured.

Don't forget when Villa were in the same "source" was claiming he'd gone AWOL and was striking....what happened....he went to Forest and won the game for us with a MoM performance..

I'm not convinced there isn't some creative expectation management going on here.

[Massive Attack]

Paqueta has painted himself in to being a villain by requesting not to play against QPR and pushing for a move to Flamengo. Couple that with also knowing how ill disciplined he has been on the pitch this season when we've needed him most, as well as arguably blag getting away with a high profile betting scandal that rocked us as a Football Club he comes across as a right cսnt all of his own doing.

[THUNDERCLINT]

My opinion and guesswork / speculation:

Sullivan has given up as part of his usual “half arse approach” to everything.   His efforts now focused on leaks to paint Paqueta as a villian to justify selling him ( with fans ) and recouping the money paid out for the 2 forwards.  Sully agreed the purchase of the 2 Temu forwards and not seeing an immediate victory against Forest has backtracked, accepted relegation and now will switch into full cost containment and recuperation mode for the next few years IMO.

We must also remember that Sullivans understanding of football ( or lack of ) is that all you need is forwards and the rest takes care of itself. Its all he ever buys thru his agents.  Of course the irony is 55 forwards and what 3 or 4 good ones? 

We need 2 good, strong CBs but at least one. We also need a CM warrior wth legs to plug the “Rice hole” a bit. And also another wide option ideally. We will get none if them. 

 

I think this is likely right. The two forwards were the last throw, and when that didn't pay instant dividends, he gave up.



 

 

 

I said as much a week ago when the crackhead shit the bed v Forest.

You have to assume Forest will continue to pick up points at the average they've done so far. In which case they'll make 38, so we need 39.

That's 8 wins and a draw and we've already pissed away most of our "easier" fixtures. It's over.

No point throwing good money after bad.

[stubbo-admin]

My opinion and guesswork / speculation:

Sullivan has given up as part of his usual “half arse approach” to everything.   His efforts now focused on leaks to paint Paqueta as a villian to justify selling him ( with fans ) and recouping the money paid out for the 2 forwards.  Sully agreed the purchase of the 2 Temu forwards and not seeing an immediate victory against Forest has backtracked, accepted relegation and now will switch into full cost containment and recuperation mode for the next few years IMO.

We must also remember that Sullivans understanding of football ( or lack of ) is that all you need is forwards and the rest takes care of itself. Its all he ever buys thru his agents.  Of course the irony is 55 forwards and what 3 or 4 good ones? 

We need 2 good, strong CBs but at least one. We also need a CM warrior wth legs to plug the “Rice hole” a bit. And also another wide option ideally. We will get none if them. 

 

I think this is likely right. The two forwards were the last throw, and when that didn't pay instant dividends, he gave up.

We also have to be realistic that we don't have 100m to throw at it, so we need to get our defenders in the cheap or on loan.

I expect we still get Adama before the end of the window, and clearly Nuno is here until season end with new members of staff arriving....plus Carrick is now off the market anyway...so we might as well get behind what we've got, hope for a rabbit from a hat, and give it the best go we've got. 

I expect our real chances mostly rest on if Bowen rediscovers any semblance of his best form.  He's the player that can truly carry us to a run of wins. 

[Westham67]

Nadi from Brighton 

[Westham67]

We need to stop conceding goals; a new seasoned Dawsonesque-type centre back should be the priority 

[Sir Alf]

My opinion and guesswork / speculation:

Sullivan has given up as part of his usual “half arse approach” to everything.   His efforts now focused on leaks to paint Paqueta as a villian to justify selling him ( with fans ) and recouping the money paid out for the 2 forwards.  Sully agreed the purchase of the 2 Temu forwards and not seeing an immediate victory against Forest has backtracked, accepted relegation and now will switch into full cost containment and recuperation mode for the next few years IMO.

We must also remember that Sullivans understanding of football ( or lack of ) is that all you need is forwards and the rest takes care of itself. Its all he ever buys thru his agents.  Of course the irony is 55 forwards and what 3 or 4 good ones? 

We need 2 good, strong CBs but at least one. We also need a CM warrior wth legs to plug the “Rice hole” a bit. And also another wide option ideally. We will get none if them. 

[Massive Attack]

Magassa is pony. Potts and Fernandes are fine.

[BoleynGone]

Sir Alf,
at last making sense. 
Potts played much better alongside Fernandes,he sat and allowed Fernandes to roam, But with Fernandes work rate and energy he still back and helped out. With Magassa there with Potts as a double pivot it doesn't work especially when we have a back 5 (or 7 ) They are not moving enough because each one is doing the same thingand getting in each others way. An easy solution would be to have Magassa as center half,his energy would be what we need instead of having either Kilman or Mavro. Nuno will stick by Kilman and bring back Soucek, I liked Soucek in the QPR game but the next games will be different without Paqueta, can we have Soucek there instead, No. But Nuno will.

[BoleynGone]

I'm sure if this is true we'd be hearing more about it very soon,not saying it's not true but let's wait.

[Rossal]

Couple more days to get a CB and centre mid in ( the first more of a priority of course ) or forego another 3 points. 

Need a winger over a CM for me...... If the CB is Dier we really are fucked 

More tosh spouted by Rossknowsfuckall.

Potts and Magassa have shown themselves to not be good enough in recent games. So much so that Soucek is looking a preferable option in the middle. 

 

 

You've proved my point. There are options in the middle. There's fuck all behind Bowen and Summerville out wide hence why we need a winger more, for competition and options off the bench. 

[Manuel]

The fact that Nuno has just made his first real coaching appointment since he got the job months ago is another bad sign.


 

Certainly is. It’s a sign that he will see out the remainder of the season no matter what.

I have a horrible feeling we will keep him in the championship too. Seems like Nuno is only here so Sullivan can tap into his agent for players.

Yea thought the same. Aside from the agent thing he has good history in the Championship with Wolves, and after leaving both Wolves and Forest under a cloud he won't another murky exit on his CV. That said, you can never really predict what will happen these days.

[Jaan Kenbrovin]

The fact that Nuno has just made his first real coaching appointment since he got the job months ago is another bad sign.

 

Certainly is. It’s a sign that he will see out the remainder of the season no matter what.

I have a horrible feeling we will keep him in the championship too. Seems like Nuno is only here so Sullivan can tap into his agent for players.