OPINION
West Ham look to be plotting a big summer when it comes to their transfer activity but after breaking the bank 12 months ago you have to wonder how much money Manuel Pellegrini has at his disposal.
It seems as though there will not be the same sort of funds which saw the likes of Felipe Anderson, Lucas Perez and Issa Diop through the door last summer, Sky Sports reporting that the Hammers will have to sell in order to buy, with fringe figures likely to be on the chopping block under the Chilean.
However, wanting to sell someone and actually getting them out the door are two entirely different things and you imagine Pellegrini and his transfer team will be working as hard on offloading the deadwood from east London as they are on bringing new talents through the door.
Football.London claim that Sam Byram and Jordan Hugill look destined for the exit after their loan spells away from West Ham, the former, on £30,000-a-week (Source: Spotrac) heading into the final year of his contract leaving West Ham hunting for a fee before losing him for nothing.
The striker meanwhile has also done very little to convince he is worthy of a place in the east Londoners’ squad but the same report states there have been no bids for his services as of yet – not the news the Hammers need.
While £30,000-a-week is some way off the top earners of the Premier League it is still a healthy sum of money for someone with no future at the club and it is funds which could be used on bringing a new player in.
After their loan spells it is stated there is interest in more temporary moves away but that does nothing for the Irons, who need the pair off their books.
If they turn down permanent exits, which could well be the case considering the money they are on, then it is going to limit Pellegrini’s ability to make new signings and give the manager a serious headache.