With Andy Carroll umming and ahhing about whether or not to sign for West Ham in a $24 million deal from Liverpool, it seems as if the East Londoners aren’t scare of splashing the cash this summer.
This morning Sevilla’s president Jose Maria del Nido, revealed the Andalucían club have rejected an offer of over $22 million for attacker Alvara Negredo.
The 27-year-old striker scored 31 goals in 42 games last season, he has also scored six time sin 14 appearances for the Spanish national team.
Negredo has spent the last four years at Sevilla and has become a cult hero with the fans. His departure would certainly anger fans of the Spanish club, after Jesus Navas has all but sealed his move to Manchester City. Sevilla’s president cited that as one of the reasons why Sevilla weren’t interested in selling Negredo.
Whether West Ham come back with an improved offer remains to be seen. But they are short of numbers up front with Carroll back to Liverpool on loan, Carlton Cole leaving on a free and other options pretty scarce.
Is this bid designed to hurry Carroll into making a decision? Perhaps.
But it would also fall in line with the Hammers ambitious plans to reach regular European soccer, with their move to the Olympic Stadium in London set for the 2016-17 season.
Even if both Carroll and Negredo don’t sign for West Ham, their fans must surely be encouraged by the ambition and drive shown by the owners. In just their first season back in the EPL, Sam Allardyce led his side to a top ten finish. It seems as if owners David Sullivan and David Gold are willing to reward Allardyce with a sizable transfer budget this summer, to help the Hammers break into the EPL’s top six.
Whether that is achievable, I’m not sure. But it seems like they will splash the cash to try and make it happen. In the meantime, here is a video of Alvaro Negredo doing what he does best... scoring spectacular goals.
