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With the start of the Barclays Premier League a little over a month away, key decisions need to be made by clubs as to how they will set their stall out for the coming season, not least of which are West Ham United.

Players not involved in European cup competitions are now enjoying a further two week break before returning from their shortened holidays in order to prepare for the start of the new season on September 12th, consequently much of the transfer gossip is exactly that, gossip and rumour.

“We’re lacking in defensive cover. We’re also looking to see who could move on, because that could change the direction we take during the transfer window. The owners have spent a lot of money in the last few years and I’m not sure a similar amount will be available this time."

There is absolutely no room for sentiment in the cut throat world of professional football, particularly in the Barclays Premier League and the Leagues below it, so West Ham United's pursuit of players who's club's have been relegated is par to the course.

Having by luck or judgement secured one of the best deals the club have made in the transfer market since the signing of Dimitri Payet, West Ham United are looking to add another Czech player to join up with Tomas Soucek who arrived on loan in the January transfer window before his move was made permanent following the club's successful battle against relegation.

When David Moyes arrived at the London Stadium for the second time he quickly confirmed that the club's prime assets were not immune from being sold, he went on to detail how the sales of Wayne Rooney and Romelu Lukaku went on to fund his previous club Everton's development for their future. His comments were quickly demoted by the club's official site as they instantly realised that the mass of sentiment against such a statement was so overwhelmingly negative that it was 'statement too far' that needed to be saved for the back burner, at least for that time.

Without wishing to sound like a broken record, recruitment and departures are guaranteed at the London Stadium as David Moyes looks to 'permanently' reshape West Ham United's bloated, ageing and in most cases over paid squad. The issue is that he has so much deadwood to get rid of that he risks starting a fire, very few players will escape the cull which will have to be limited because there aren't enough clubs out there willing to offer similar deals to the one's they are currently enjoying with West Ham United.

The transfer window for the Barclays Premier League opened on the 27th of July and is scheduled to end on the 5th of October, with most clubs strapped for cash as a result of the financial meltdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic many assume there will be bargains to be had, especially for those clubs unfortunate enough to have experienced failure to get promoted as well as those who have been relegated, for whatever reason.

Some media outlets have been awash with claims that West Ham are closing in on the capture of Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite, others have not. It is silly season for transfer rumours, the more outrageous or illogical tend to get the banner headlines and therefore the Irons 'firmed up interest' in Man City reject Braithwaite comes as no surprise.

Without wanting to cast dispersions about a young football player who has never been given a realistic opportunity to show his worth, we find the publicity surrounding West Ham United's Albian Ajeti's proposed departure from the club disproportionate. With the greatest respect Ajeti's transfer is just a side show to the 'main event'.