West Ham pulled off some impressive signings over the summer but some felt a young, pacy striker would have rounded off a perfect window.
The Hammers chased Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran for much of the summer.
At one stage a deal for West Ham to bring the Colombian to the London Stadium looked like it was on.
In the end Duran remained at Villa where he is currently making a good fist of his redemption arc having raised two of them in a crossed Hammers gesture that had West Ham fans giddy and Villa’s livid.
Despite the arrival of experienced Germany forward Niclas Fullkrug, many are concerned by West Ham’s failure to sign a younger striker with speed.
So much so there is already talk – among fans at least – that Jarrod Bowen could go back to leading the line in some games.
The fixation on the striker department is taking away from what is arguably West Ham’s most impressive business of the summer.
While Max Kilman, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Guido Rodriguez have all impressed, Jean-Clair Todibo was arguably the club’s biggest capture of the window.
Romano: £35m West Ham transfer still inevitable
The French centre-back was genuinely wanted by Manchester United and Juventus in the summer.
Given INEOS’s involvement with Nice and Man United, UEFA blocked the Red Devils from signing Todibo.
The ex Barcelona defender Todibo had then looked set to sign for Juventus.
But Hammers technical director Tim Steidten flew out to Nice. And true to form when Steidten takes to his jet, West Ham got their man – beating the Italians to the 24-year-old ball-carrying centre-back.
After a disrupted pre-season, Todibo has only made one start for West Ham so far in a win over Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup.
It’s fair to say he looked a touch rusty in that game. But Hammers fans saw enough to serenade Todibo with the William Saliba chant.
The international break may be insufferably boring for most. But it has come at the perfect time for Todibo to catch up.
The fact Todibo has not gone straight into the team despite being the headline signing, coupled with his inauspicious debut in the cup has given rise to idle speculation and conspiracy theories.
Some have suggested West Ham now have cold feet about signing Todibo for big money after getting a close look at him.
That has prompted a top football transfer reporter to clarify the situation.
Fabrizio Romano insists the £35m West Ham transfer is still inevitable after rumours.
When West Ham announced the signing of Todibo from Nice it was stated it was “an initial season-long loan, with an option to make the transfer permanent in summer 2025”.
It’s since been reported the deal actually contains an obligation to buy for around £35m.
“It’s a virtual obligation,” the top West Ham spokesman told
Taking to X on Sunday, Romano calmed nerves around West Ham that Todibo may not end up signing permanently.
“The obligation to buy clause (€40m – £35m) into Jean-Clair Todibo deal at West Ham from OGC Nice is very easy to reach, almost guaranteed,” Romano confirmed.
“It will be triggered soon as French centre back can already be considered 100% West Ham player, as always mentioned.”
