A sudden West Ham link to one of the biggest superstars in world football has left everyone baffled in what is the most bizarre rumour of the window.
It’s difficult for West Ham fans to know who or indeed what to believe when it comes to the wacky world of football transfers.
The Hammers were always going to be one of the busiest clubs this summer.
A threadbare squad of just 16 senior players means that is a necessity for West Ham.
David Moyes did a lot of good at the club.
But his preference for a smaller squad has left new head coach Julen Lopetegui and technical director Tim Steidten with a huge job on their hands.
All areas of the team and squad need to be strengthened.
West Ham appear to be paying particular attention to wide attacking and striker targets, though.
Hammers scouring world for attackers
Many believe that is because of the situation surrounding Lucas Paqueta with the possibility of West Ham losing him at any point if he is found guilty of the charges against him by an independent three-person panel.
There are also growing rumours that an elite club could pay in excess of £100m to lure Mohammed Kudus away a year before his £85m release clause becomes active.
The likes of Luis Guilherme, Jota Silva, Wilfried Zaha and Wesley Gassova have all been heavily linked with moves to the London Stadium.
Not to mention a host of strikers including Youssef En-Nesyri, Victor Boniface, Armando Broja, Serhou Guirassy, Dominic Solanke and Ivan Toney.
So it is clear Steidten and Lopetegui want a left-sided attacker as well as a new forward.
But now a barely believable claim has emerged which will stop fans in their tracks.
Because a sudden West Ham link to a world superstar has left everyone baffled.
Sudden West Ham link to world superstar leaves everyone baffled
Futbol de Inglaterra is a very popular X account with over 400,000 followers.
It posts football data, curiosities, threads and statistics about the English League and British Football including ‘exclusive Premier League content’.
And in what is surely the most bizarre Hammers transfer rumour of the summer – or perhaps ever – it claims West Ham enquired about Kylian Mbappe.
Yes Hammers fans, you did just read that correctly.
The France forward – who plays off the left – has joined European champions Real Madrid from PSG on a “free” transfer.
Given the fact Mbappe – widely regarded as the best player in the world – was available without clubs having to part with a transfer fee, he was one of the most coveted free agent of all time.
The account claims West Ham were one of four Premier League clubs who ‘were interested’ in signing Mbappe alongside Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool.
“Real Madrid have signed Kylian Mbappe [Fabrizio Romano] Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham were interested, sorry Premier League fans,” Futbol de Inglaterra states.
West Ham certainly leaving no stone unturned
Of course there was nothing stopping West Ham throwing their hat in the ring.
But the post has obviously left fans of most clubs bemused.
Mind you, realistically, the other clubs mentioned probably had about as much chance as West Ham of actually luring Mbappe to the Premier League given his desire to fulfil a lifelong dream of playing for Madrid.
Mbappe would have been some upgrade on Michail Antonio and Danny Ings that’s for sure.
If West Ham genuinely approached Mbappe’s entourage then it will go down as the stuff of transfer window legend.
West Ham have had some amazing players down the years. And as PSG have found out, one player – even as good as Mbappe – doesn’t make a team.
And let’s not forget West Ham once shocked the world when they landed Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
Perhaps the Hammers were hoping Alphonse Areola would put a good word in with his France teammate Mbappe.
Whatever the truth behind the sudden claim, it is without doubt one of the most bizarre and comical in living memory.