All the talk about the proposed signing from Al Ain of Emmanuel Emenike has distracted from the fact that with the departures of Zarate and Jenkinson, along with the likely move of Nikica Jelavic to China, West Ham have cleared out a number of berths for potential incoming squad additions.
Although Carroll and Sakho are set to return over the next few weeks, the fact is that even if Emenike joins the Hammers are still short on forwards and with Champions League football a real possibility the chairmen will need to think carefully about the old adage of speculating to accumulate.
Southampton's capture of Charlie Austin for a paltry £4 million was a cracking bit of business and one wonders if a switch to Upton Park might have been possible only for David Sullivan's provocative comments about Austin's ability and injury-proneness during the Summer transfer campaign.
But unfortunately for West Ham, the Austin bird has flown and they have been forced to look elsewhere for the poacher that could fire them into Europe. for now, the rumour mill has gone quiet but with space in the squad and cash freed up by the recent departures, there is every likelihood that the Hammers will make a late move before the transfer window closes tomorrow.
Burak Yilmaz, Michy Batshuayi, Stephen Fletcher, Demba Ba, Andre Pierre Gignac, Saido Berahinho and Ishak Belfodil have all been linked with a high profile move to the Boleyn with Ba, Belfodil and Gignac meeting Sullivan's description of the mystery player who is currently in a strange league but has previously played in one of the major European leagues.
With Sullivan and Gold, we will never get bored or complacent!
