West Ham won’t believe what a Saints star said about them at their promotion party after returning to the Premier League.
Southampton are back in the top flight after winning the play-off final but West Ham got a mention at their celebrations.
The Hammers had a vested interest in the outcome of Saints’ Championship play-off final against Leeds.
That being central midfield ace Flynn Downes.
Southampton will earn an estimated £120m being back in the big time.
And that’s the kind of figure West Ham look set to have to spend to make the eight or nine signings needed as part of Julen Lopetegui’s overhaul.
Are West Ham down for Flynn?
Boyhood West Ham fan Downes capped a superb season on loan with the south coast club.
The 25-year-old decided he had to leave the Hammers in search of game time after the club splashed over £64m on midfield duo Edson Alvarez and – rather ironically – Saints captain James Ward-Prowse.
Downes was superb in the final and very much key to Southampton joining his parent club West Ham back in the Prem.
He made seven tackles in the final, more than any other player on the pitch.
The lifelong Hammer also made a vital block to keep out reported West Ham target Crysencio Summerville’s goal-bound effort in the second half.
He also helped West Ham earn an extra £1m from the Saints’ promotion.
Whether the arrival of Lopetegui at West Ham will change Downes’ situation remains to be seen.
West Ham won’t believe what Saints star said about them
The Hammers are seriously lacking in players who meet the Premier League’s homegrown status. So that may play a part too.
Fans have been debating whether the club should bring Downes back into the fold or take the reported £12m Saints are willing to pay for his services.
His future was a hot topic during Southampton’s celebrations today too.
And West Ham won’t believe what a Saints star said about them at their promotion party.
Downes’ future was being discussed on stage when Adam Armstrong said ‘if West Ham don’t want him then we’ll keep him’.
But he was rudely interrupted by captain Jack Stephens. Quite literally.
Defender Stephens shouted “F*** West Ham!” Much to the delight of the thousands of Saints fans gathered.
Stephens was also spotted joining in with fan chants of ‘Sign him up’ about Downes.
All a bit of fun and hijinks of course if a touch juvenile and disrespectful.
And Stephens has probably secured himself a warm welcome from Hammers fans when they face Southampton next season.
There may be bad news for the 30-year-old, though.
Because West Ham and Downes appeared to suggest where his future might be in the wake of the promotion.
Regardless of what happens with Downes, Southampton’s promotion could well see a high-earning Hammers flop offloaded.