West Ham United: ExWHUemployee reveals Joe Worrall transfer issue despite interest

Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that Joe Worrall could have cost himself a move to West Ham United after damning interview. 

Back in November 2021, the Nottingham Forest defender spoke about a failed summer transfer move to a top English club which left him feeling somewhat betrayed.

He said: “I was really sold and I thought it was fantastic. He said ‘do you want to leave Forest?’ and I said ‘no, but for a Premier League team and to make that step up… I want to play for England and everything so that’s the next rung on the ladder.

“I was thinking ‘right, time to pack my bags then’.

“The next day, I saw in the paper (the team) had bid for (someone else) and it’s been accepted.

“I’m thinking he’s probably just jumped off the Zoom meeting and gone onto the Zoom meeting with the other guy and sold us both a dream. Then bid for both of us and played us against each other. That’s the feeling I got.”

Reading between the lines, Ex suggested that the Premier League club he was speaking about was West Ham and that other defender was Kurt Zouma.

Talking on The West Ham Way podcast, the presenter said that while the club still likely have an interest in Worrall, and could go back in for him in the summer, the deal may now be completed.

He explained (01:1o:57): “Now, this is an interesting one with Joe Worrall, because we did submit a bid for him in the summer last year. And then we changed our mind, and I think it was when we signed Zouma.

 “And Joe Worrall’s came out and he’s actually been quite critical of a club and how they handled a transfer last summer.”

He added (1:11:44): “He was quite damning in an interview about how that business was conducted. And it’s said it has left him a sour taste. So whether that will ultimately stop him moving or not. I hope not.”

Before concluding (1:12:32): “I do expect us to have a keen interest in him in the summer. It’s just whether that interview he gave, whether that is going to be on his mind and that will stop him moving.”

TIF thoughts on Joe Worrall and West Ham…

It will be interesting to see if West Ham do decide to go back in for Worrall in the summer, or if – as Ex suggests it might – these apparent sour grapes have scuppered any future move.

It’s certainly no secret that the club have had their eye on a few different potential centre-back signings in the past, but it remains to be seen as to have they actually go for.

If they do go for Worrall in the end, they may face stiff competition from other Premier League clubs for his signature though. The Sun claim that Brentford and Everton could be keen on a move, and after that interview, he may perhaps favour one of those teams ahead of the Hammers.

In other news: ‘The club are…’ – Ex reveals huge development out of West Ham