DEAL CONFIRMED;West ham agree terms and conditions with former player and announces his return…

Maybe David Ornstein is right as David Sullivan gives West Ham a sudden boost in their pursuit of a marquee signing this summer.

Perhaps West Ham are playing a game of brinkmanship after all.

All Hammers fans have heard from club insiders for the last few months is that the money well has run dry.

It has been story after story that West Ham’s cupboards are bare, the coffers are empty and – in the club’s own words – ‘the finances are a mess’.

From the outside there has been plenty of evidence supporting that narrative.

West Ham doing a £69m deal with Barclays means they have used all transfer money owed to them.

The Hammers’ hierarchy has also braced fans for £80m losses in the next accounts.

Supporters have been warned to expect belt-tightening to adhere to PSR.

Hammers red herring over transfer funds?

West Ham even brought forward season ticket renewals by two months – to this month – in a desperate bid to raise some cash.

The financial situation has confused supporters given that the three most influential people on West Ham’s board are savvy business minds.

Billionaire majority owner David Sullivan is no fool when it comes to finances.

Neither is vice-chair Karren Brady.

And the club’s second biggest stakeholder, Daniel Kretinsky, has doubled his net worth to £13bn since buying into West Ham. So his record speaks for itself.

So when journalist David Ornstein called West Ham out over a transfer funds red herring, it would have been music to the ears of fans and manager Graham Potter.

West Ham get sudden boost for marquee signing

Because make no mistake West Ham face a pivotal summer window with another overhaul needed.

West Ham do plan to raise over £100m in sales.

That money will go to Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macualey to revamp the squad.