West Ham owners fear transfer 'civil war' if 'daft' Premier League vote passes

West Ham’s owners have labelled an imminent Premier League vote over the summer transfer window as ‘daft’.

West Ham are facing a huge summer transfer window which could make or break Graham Potter’s tenure.

There have been signs of promise under the new Hammers boss.

But results and performances on the whole have been inauspicious.

Potter has already seen the limitations of the West Ham squad that was so poorly assembled by Tim Steidten and Julen Lopetegui.

Both men paid the ultimate price with their jobs.

Kyle Macaulay has been brought in from Chelsea as the club’s new head of recruitment.

Macaulay’s skill set is in talent identification rather than deal-making, though.

Major problem looms for crucial West Ham transfer window

So majority owner David Sullivan has returned to his role as West Ham’s de facto director of football and vice-chair Karren Brady will be negotiating transfer deals.

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West Ham plan to raise over £100m in player sales to fund summer signings.

PSR will restrict the Hammers after their £155m spend last year.

Potter and Macauley want to overhaul the midfield and striker department whole driving down the age of the Premier League’s oldest squad.

With the club 16th in the table after the missteps of last summer, they cannot afford to make any more big mistakes in what will be a crucial window if West Ham are to get back to competing for Europe.

There is a major problem looming large, though.

Split image of Dame Karren Brady attending the Hello! Inspiration Awards, and Graham Potter looking on prior to a match. Inset, David Sullivan and Daniel Kretinsky. Credit: Getty Images/David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Bryn Lennon/Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/JOEL SAGET/AFP

And West Ham’s owners fear transfer ‘civil war’ if a ‘daft’ Premier League vote passes this week.

Some Premier League clubs have been pushing for a shortened summer window.

There were discussions at the end of last month about closing the next window before the start of next season, around three weeks earlier than normal.

With the number of deals West Ham are hoping to do – both in and out – that could prove disastrous.

It tends to only be the elite or mega rich clubs that can get deals done for players in speedy fashion.

For most, transfers can be a long drawn out process.

There could be a 15-16 player turnaround at West Ham this summer so the club will need as much time as possible to ensure they get it right.

West Ham owners fear transfer ‘civil war’

At their next meeting on Thursday March 27th, West Ham will join the other 19 Premier League clubs in their latest meeting where talks will be held over ending the transfer window mid-August, before the start of next season.

A super-majority of 14 will be required if the motion is to be put to the vote.

There will be no prizes for guessing which way West Ham will be voting.

When the idea was floated at the last meeting, the Hammers’ hierarchy described the window plans as a ‘mess’ that would leave Premier League clubs as ‘sitting ducks’.

That’s because the rest of the world’s top leagues will not be closing early, as seasons start on different dates.

Inside West Ham’s London Stadium. Inset, Hammers boss Graham Potter, majority owner David Sullivan and head of recruitment Kyle Macauley. Credit: Getty Images/Julian Finney/Rob Newell/Craig Mercer/Athena Pictures/MB Media/CameraSport

Now, speaking exclusively to Hammers News ahead of the vote, West Ham’s owners warn it could be disastrous.

“It seems a daft move,” the most senior spokesman for West Ham’s owners told Hammers News.

“I don’t know why even the “big six” would want it because if you get a good bid for a player you can’t sell him as you can’t replace him.

“So you get civil war breaking out at clubs.

“I can’t see why anybody wants it. You are put at an international disadvantage compared to European competitors.”

The good news is, West Ham’s board don’t anticipate it being voted in.

Hammers will be ‘amazed’ if ‘daft’ Premier League vote passes

“I’d be amazed if they didn’t vote against it, but the three relegated teams might have no interest so who knows how they would vote?” the spokesman added.

Since news of the imminent vote broke, a number of journalists have predicted the plans will be thrown out with the window closing in early September as normal.

As reported previously, there could even be a chance for West Ham and their rivals to do deals in a 10-day block at the start of June.

Because FIFA are opening a special window for all leagues as part of the Club World Cup.

Although PSR will dictate West Ham have to cut their cloth accordingly this summer, a top journalist believes the club will be very active.

David Ornstein says West Ham will be busy this summer, suggesting claims to the contrary are a red herring.

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