In the various textbooks and ‘how to’ manuals on efficient ways to run a football club, West Ham are unlikely to feature too much.
After a promising season in the Premier League in 2015/16, last year they contrived to undo a lot of their good work.
A controversial move to the vacuous London Stadium, derisory bids for the likes of Jermain Defoe and generally embarrassing owners have made them a laughing stock in recent years.
And their recent transfer activity smacks of naivety again.
The Telegraph are reporting the Hammers are in talks with Bundesliga side Koln after bidding £22m for striker Anthony Modeste.
That’s just 12 months after they snubbed the chance to sign him for only £6m last summer.
Modeste, who Premier League fans might remember from a pretty uneventful spell at Blackburn a few years ago, had a brilliant season in Germany, scoring 25 goals.
The 29-year-old saw a proposed move to the Chinese Super League fall through last week, allowing West Ham to pounce and move to the front of the queue.
Koln, however, are believed to be holding out for £30m despite the striker approaching his 30th birthday.
The east Londoners are desperate to strengthen in attacking areas after watching their forwards toil in front of goal last season.
In fact, their strikers had managed just one goal between them all until February in the Premier League with the likes of Andy Carroll, Andre Ayew and Simone Zaza in particular all struggling for form and fitness.
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