West Ham United must wire £60m to Chelsea for duo while they’re managerless and Todd Boehly may just accept it.
There is a lot of talk in West Ham circles that David Sullivan should have waited before making Julen Lopetegui the club’s new manager.
Especially when Mauricio Pochettino – a reported former Hammers target – sensationally left Chelsea last night.
Having turned the Blues around in 2024 and with the future looking bright, Pochettino looked set to stay at Chelsea.
But the Stamford Bridge club are like a box of frogs since Todd Boehly – who was also previously linked with a West Ham takeover – came along.
There are 15 million reasons why Sullivan won’t be performing a U-turn on Lopetegui to appoint Pochettino.
But the Hammers could yet benefit from his departure.
Chelsea have by far and away the biggest squad in the Premier League beyond the 25 registered players. And it’s the youngest too.
By contrast, their London rivals West Ham have the smallest – with just 22 players – and the second oldest.
That number will shrink to around 16 when several players leave at the end of their contracts.
Hammers can take advantage of Pochettino departure
It leaves new boss Lopetegui and technical director Tim Steidten with a major rebuild on their hands this summer.
As West Ham fans will know, that rebuild must centre – in the main – around players who tick the Premier League’s Homegrown Player rule. The Hammers are short on numbers to meet that quota.
Meanwhile with homegrown talent coming out of their ears, Chelsea are looking to sell locally produced players as they represent 100 per cent profit when it comes to strict PSR rules.
It is being reported that one of the reasons Pochettino has left Chelsea is that he did not agree with the club’s transfer strategy.
Now the Hammers might be able to take advantage.
West Ham must wire £60m to Chelsea for duo while they’re managerless.
West Ham must wire £60m to Chelsea for duo
The Hammers have been heavily linked with both Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah in the last few windows.
West Ham have been linked with Gallagher in the last four transfer windows, including in January.
Pochettino was reluctant to sell and he has proved a key player for the Blues this season.
But he remains for sale at the right price according to reports.
Central defender Chalobah has been a transfer target for West Ham for some time now, most recently back in January when the Chelsea ace was linked with a move to the London Stadium.
Just yesterday The Telegraph claimed the versatile English defender is for sale for £25m.
Gallagher is believed to be valued at around £45m by Boehly.
Get them while they’re managerless
Many Chelsea fans do not want to see Gallagher or Chalobah sold.
But West Ham can take advantage of the fact there is no manager at the club to resist Boehly doing just that.
Both count as homegrown players and are of the ideal age and profile to fit Steidten’s recruitment philosophy.
This could be the biggest no-brainer of West Ham’s summer window.
Unfortunately the Hammers do not have European football to offer. But a place as key first team starters and staying in London may well appeal.
So let’s hope Steidten and Sullivan get on the phone to Boehly before rivals – such as Spurs – look to get to them first.