ExWHUemployee has revealed how close West Ham United were to signing Ross Barkley on a free transfer this summer.
The English midfielder’s future was subject to much speculation this summer, but after agreeing to become a free agent by mutual consent, he has ended up with French outfit Nice (via BBC Sport).
If the latest reports are to be believed, though, it seems as though West Ham were one club who may have made a move for the Englishman.
Indeed, while updating The West Ham Way Patreon page, Ex appeared to suggest that David Moyes could have pushed for a deal if he lowered his wage demands – though Nice were quick to act.
He explained: “Former Chelsea and Everton midfielder Ross Barkley joins Nice as free agent. There had been some talk that his former manager David Moyes could make a move if his wage demands were fair but it seems that Nice have moved quickly and offered him decent terms, persuading him to join. Nice have signed a number of players from the Premier League this season.”
Would you have wanted Ross Barkley at West Ham?
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TIF thoughts on Ross Barkley and West Ham…
Barkley played 18 times under Moyes when they were both at Everton, so a reunion may well have been a plausible scenario at one stage.
However, as hinted at by Ex, West Ham were not willing to meet Barkley’s wage demands. Considering they missed out on Jesse Lingard earlier in the summer for similar reasons, it’s not hard to see why this potential deal never happened.
Of course, the Hammers did just spend big money on bringing attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta to the club as well, so it’s not as if they were desperate for another player in that role.
All in all, it looks as though the stars really would have had to align for this deal to happen.