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Firstly we would churlish to criticise Gareth Southgate's management of an England team that nearly won their first International tournament final for 55 years, the team, the coaching staff and the manager took their country to within touching distance of greatness only to fall at the last hurdle on penalties.

In footballing parlance, David Moyes 'never fancied' Felipe Anderson, a talented 'luxury' player brought to West Ham at great expense as part of 'Pellegreedy's' master plan to take the club 'to the next level'. Unfortunately that next level was to virtually bankrupt the club, at the same time as nearly getting it relegated, that certainly would have been another level, but not the one the fans or owners had anticipated.

Well it is the silly season, so we would be neglecting our duties in not mentioning players 'linked' with West Ham, but some of the reports are at best stale, whereas others are down right dumb. The 2020/1 Euros have thrown up the names of new targets, as some players have shone during their appearances in the competition, many have become unrecognisable from the players that their domestic fans see.

The clamour and anxiety most football fans have before the beginning of each new season invariably relates to the incomings and outgoings at their clubs, West Ham's acquisition of senior players have been conspicuous by their absence recently, so what's going on?

Money bags Everton, how much their fans must have fantasised about hearing that back in the days when they didn't have two coins to rub together, are 'pursuing' Patrik Schick and just about everyone else who has a pulse, as well as the need for an even fatter bank account than all the other hugely paid performers in the Barclays Premier league.

PWP? Players with potential, essentially youth players with future potential or mavericks who need 'converting'. Irrespective of the spin emanating from the London Stadium, it is clear for anyone to see that West Ham are broke, the club doesn't have a pot to p**s in.

We know it is silly season for transfers, a period of time when ludicrous transfer rumours are the order of the day and when the press never let the truth get in the way of a good story. Well at least that's what most Hammers fans will be thinking when they read that the club which sold Felipe Anderson to West Ham for close on £40 Million, want to take him back for free, but with a 50% sell on fee!

To describe Felipe Anderson's loan spell at Porto as a disaster is an understatement, the once flamboyant Brazilian looked a shadow of his former self while in Portugal and returned to West Ham a 'chastened' player. The player has expressed a desire to return to his former club Lazio, the club sold Anderson to the Irons for £36 Million excluding add ons, they are now looking to re-sign him for just 15% of that fee, thus making a profit of around £30 Million.

David Sullivan and the Hierarchy's pet site didn't waste much time in coming up with a way to 'explain' the party line, one that was as predictable as it was onerous. A mandate which infers that they, GSB, have done their upmost to 'satisfy' the 'hyper inflated' demands of their in demand talisman. The tone being that Declan Rice's representative, his Dad, is demanding a wage that is commensurate with a player of much greater reputation and ability.

The 'Declan Rice scenario' has taken on new impetus, courtesy of an article in the Telegraph which has been amplified and regurgitated by the general media, but also backed up by the usually reliable Ex WHU employee. To those not in the know, the situation is quite simple and is a classic example of both time moving and the recalcitrancy of a once bitten twice shy board of directors.