If West Ham really want to be challenging the Premier League’s best next season, then it’s about time that they made a leap of faith.
For far too long now the East Londoners have always looked for the cheaper options, both playing and managerially, rather than pushing the boat out.
Despite being a perennial sleeping giant on the London football scene, the club surely can’t be expected to compete with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Chelsea if they’re seemingly unwilling to match their transfer spend.
West Ham to bid for Pedro Goncalves
Furthermore, a more progressive coach is surely needed to take the Hammers to the next level, with the greatest of respect to David Moyes.
If new rumours being attributed to the club are proven to be accurate, however, a new dawn might just be around the corner.
According to TeamTalk, the Hammers are running the rule over Sporting’s excellent left-winger, Pedro Goncalves.
The player has a £69m release clause say the outlet, who also note the close attentions of Aston Villa and Bayer Leverkusen.
Given that Villa could make next season’s Champions League, a switch to Villa Park would have obvious cachet, however, if West Ham can force through a move for Ruben Amorim to take over at the London Stadium, there’s every chance Goncalves will follow suit.
Nothing will happen of course until July 1 when the summer transfer window opens for business.
By that point all of the variables will be known, and the player himself can make an informed decision on where he wants to ply his trade next season.
If the Hammers manager to pull off a club record transfer, that will be a huge signal of intent for the coming season and will surely start 2024/25 off on the right foot.