Sekou Traore, an agency connected to Fyodor Smolov, has revealed the reasons behind the striker’s failed transfer to West Ham prior to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The Russian international scored 14 goals in 22 games during an amazing 2017–18 season for Krasnodar before joining Lokomotiv Moscow and later Dynamo Moscow.
According to Sky Sports, in January 2018, there were rumors that the Hammers were considering Smolov, and Krasnodar was asking for a £12 million transfer price. However, the agreement did not work out.
Since then, the forward has apologized for not making the Premier League move, and Traore has detailed the precise events that led to this.
The agent stated to Match TV on Thursday, February 29th, that Krasnodar first turned down a £10 million offer from West Ham. The following bid was £11 million. Once more, Krasnodar declined because they desired £14 or $15 million.
At the time, Slomov thought he might get an offer from a more prestigious European team. Fedor was 28 years old at the time. The right age to retire while still in top form.
But he declined, which upset me. He later acknowledged in an interview that he felt bad about turning down West Ham’s offer.
With Fyodor Smolov, West Ham United avoids a £11 million bullet.
In recent seasons, the Hammers have had difficulty locating stand-alone strikers at London Stadium; Michail Antonio is the closest they have come.
The Jamaican has surpassed Paolo Di Canio to become the club’s all-time leading scorer in the Premier League, but his career has been slightly hampered by his persistent ailments.
When Marlon Harewood scored 22 goals to help West Ham go through the playoffs, the team was fighting in the Championship and it was the last time a striker for the team scored more than 20 goals in a season.
Xande Silva, Lucas Perez, and Gianluca Scamacca Since West Ham relocated to the London Stadium, striker acquisitions like Jordan Hugill and Jonathan Calleri have proven to be unsuccessful, indicating a distinct lack of focus in the team’s signing process.
Michail Antonio, an attacker for West Ham United
Michail Antonio, a forward for West Ham United, has struggled with injuries throughout his career.
Smolov, who has only scored 70 goals domestically in the last six years and failed to rediscover his incredible form during the 2018 World Cup, would have been just another black mark on a long history of badly thought out big-money moves. [Transfermarkt]
Hammers supporters should consider themselves extremely fortunate that Smolov declined to relocate to London.
Other West Ham news: Ally McCoist has demanded something new of Jarrod Bowen, a star for the Hammers, live on talkSPORT.
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