West Ham have addressed the fallout from Mohammed Kudus’ controversial sale to Tottenham by issuing a major transfer statement – including shock news on Niclas Fullkrug.
West Ham have done the unthinkable and sold Mohammed Kudus to bitter rivals Spurs.
Hammers fans are up in arms about selling a top player like Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur – the first transaction between the two clubs for 14 years.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy had cooled the Kudus talks after seeing multiple offers to Hammers chief David Sullivan rejected – including one which was even tied to Tottenham winning the Premier League and Champions League.
West Ham issue big transfer statement after Kudus sale to Spurs
It has been revealed how Levy got Sullivan to buckle over the Kudus deal – which is actually less than £55m at just £54.5m.
Sullivan and the West Ham board are now facing a backlash from fans, who are bracing themselves to be mercilessly goaded by their Tottenham counterparts.
Just as they have been by Arsenal fans over Declan Rice for the last two years.
Previously the Hammers board have stated that Graham Potter would only get around 75 per cent of the money made on some sales to spend on players due to the PSR situation.
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But after selling to Spurs, supporters are demanding that Potter is given every penny of the Kudus fee to start playing catch-up on his rebuild.
And the pressure is on to now pull off the perfect window after years of poor recruitment.
Given West Ham were hoping to make at least £65m from the sale of Kudus, the actual fee is a blow to Potter’s spending power.
More sales are expected with the likes of Nayef Aguerd, Emerson Palmieri, Edson Alvarez, Guido Rodriguez and Niclas Fullkrug all believed to be on the market.
Hammers board deliver shock Fullkrug news
It was also claimed West Ham’s Kudus heir could be sold next after a bid was submitted.
Potter will need every penny he can get with the Hammers boss linked with a host of targets including left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf, goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, midfielders Raphael Onyedika and James McAtee and striker Evann Guessand to name but a few.
The Hammers hierarchy have been insisting they must operate a sell to buy policy in the summer window.
With the money coming in from Tottenham, fans are demanding action.
Now West Ham have issued a major transfer statement after the Kudus sale to Spurs including shock Fullkrug news.
West Ham make stance on signings clear after sale
The Hammers have addressed their controversial Kudus decision and confirmed where they stand on selling Fullkrug amid reported interest from Italy and Germany.
The top spokesman for West Ham’s owners has told Hammers News that Potter will be getting all the Kudus cash to spend on signings.
But the board have also made one thing perfectly clear about incomings.
And there has been a hugely surprising twist when the club was pressed on whether the likes of Aguerd, Emerson and Fullkrug could be sold soon to raise further funds.
“Every penny will be used for signings,” the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners told Hammers News.
“But we will not be hurried into signings as we need to make every single penny count.”
West Ham say lean, mean Fullkrug is staying
When asked about further sales, including Fullkrug – who turns 33 next season and spent two thirds of his debut season out injured – the response may shock many.
Because West Ham now say Fullkrug is looking lean and mean and will not be leaving.
“Fullkrug has come back three kilos lighter and very, very determined, and we hope he has a great season,” the West Ham spokesman told Hammers News.
That comes after Potter made it clear he sees Fullkrug as a substitute for West Ham.
What this means for West Ham’s striker search, especially if Michail Antonio stays, remains to be seen.
But given the injury history and age of both players, the Hammers would be ill-advised to go into the new season without signing a new young forward to compete for the striker role.
On the flip side, Hammers fans have really taken to Fullkrug as a character and he is said to be a positive, leadership influence in the dressing room despite his angry outburst at the end of last season.