January 2026 Transfer Thread

[Alex Krals Camembert]

For striker I would like us to do something a little different.

Take a look at the top scorers in all european leagues this season. I've listed a few below, obviously leaving out Haaland, Kane etc

I have such excitement for us to sign Albian Ajeti again.

[Rozzop]

I have such excitement for us to sign Albian Ajeti again.

He hardly played for us, 9 league games in a year while I doubt he started many of those.

Was he good enough? Probably not. But hes in good company for failed striker purchases.

[Puff Daddy]

He hardly played for us, 9 league games in a year while I doubt he started many of those.

Was he good enough? Probably not. But hes in good company for failed striker purchases.

He was an unused sub for Albania yesterday

[Alex Krals Camembert]

He hardly played for us, 9 league games in a year while I doubt he started many of those.

Was he good enough? Probably not. But hes in good company for failed striker purchases.

There is no question, he was not good enough. But he is the profile of player you are advocating for, this is generally the level of player who top scores in the more obscure European leagues. A 16 or 17 year old Isak/Haaland type might appear occasionally and score at a rate that shows the poor level for what it is, but they are quickly acquired by clubs with a proper scouting infrastructure before they even appear on West Ham's radar.

The idea that a player comes from one of these leagues and makes any material difference to our first teams performance is not especially realistic.

[Alex Krals Camembert]

He was an unused sub for Albania yesterday

He wasn't.

[Puff Daddy]

He wasn't.

Thought I saw his name on the teamsheet before the game

[Jedi Al Khalaas]

Substitutes
home team, Albania

Number 5,
A. Ajeti

[Takeiteasy]

Substitutes
home team, Albania

Number 5,
A. Ajeti

Arlind Ajeti, he’s a centre back, not the forward who played for us.

Shall we get back to the thread topic now?

[Johnny Byrne's Boots]

Who was the Albania left back (I presume) last night? I thought he had a decent game against Bowen.

[Dieter Eckstein]

Arlind Ajeti, he’s a centre back, not the forward who played for us.

Shall we get back to the thread topic now?

Albian Ajeti is also Swiss. But anyway, we shouldn't sign him, or anyone equally rubbish!

[OftenUnderchuffed]

Although Ajeti clearly wasn’t good enough, we actually made most of our money back on him. That is an advantage of buying young - when players don’t work out, other clubs are still prepared to take a gamble on them, and due to their lower wages, they tend to be easier to offload.

[il_martello_di_genovesi]

If you’re looking for a cb surely you look at Serie A? Traditionally a good defensive league (pretty sure I’ve seen a lot lately about loads of 0-0’s happening). Would probably be the first place I looked if I was in charge.

If 0-0’s are happening in Serie A it’s, because the lower half of the league is ****. Not even Championship standard. There will be the odd good player to find, but I’d much rather search the Championship and Ligue 1 (or Belgium) for defenders/midfielders tbh.

The state of the Italy national team tells it own story. A Gareth Southgate error with Declan Rice has papered over some cracks. The national team is rubbish and the league is bar 2/3 teams.

[DusseldorfHammer]

If 0-0’s are happening in Serie A it’s, because the lower half of the league is ****. Not even Championship standard.

Bold take.

[il_martello_di_genovesi]

Bold take.

It’s MY take from watching the league. If you don’t like that it’s a you problem.

It seems you get quite triggered whenever anything is posted from me, HM04 or SH. Another you problem.

[DusseldorfHammer]

It’s MY take from watching the league. If you don’t like that it’s a you problem.

The lower half of the Championship is full of poor sides as well. Still quality players to find. Players, that a capable of getting nurtured into PL players. Same goes for most leagues decent First Divisions in Western Europe; which obviously includes Serie A.

[I am Legend]

I think the fact that Moise Kean and Lookman were the two of the top 3 scorers last season says everything about the current state of Serie A.

I love Italian football, but its definitely way below PL quality right now. Apart from a few teams.

[il_martello_di_genovesi]

The lower half of the Championship is full of poor sides as well. Still quality players to find. Some, that a capable of getting nurtured into PL players. Same goes for most leagues decent First Divisions in Western Europe; that obviously includes Serie A.

I didn’t mention the bottom of half of the Championship, I mentioned the bottom half of Serie A. Not the same thing.

I also literally said, there will still be the odd good player to find, so don’t know what you are arguing there.

So my ‘bold take’ was something I didn’t even say and something that I did say and you have repeated.

Very bold indeed.

[HammerMan2004]

It seems you get quite triggered whenever anything is posted from me, HM04 or SH. Another you problem.

Every. Single. Time.

[Sale-Away]

It’s MY take from watching the league. If you don’t like that it’s a you problem.

It seems you get quite triggered whenever anything is posted from me, HM04 or SH. Another you problem.

calm down now, there is no need to get on your high horse, it is a bold take, to suggest the bottom half of Serie A is not up to the standard of the mighty Oxford United, or a beleaguered Sheffield Wednesday.

[DusseldorfHammer]

I didn’t mention the bottom of half of the Championship, I mentioned the bottom half of Serie A. Not the same thing.

You've mentioned the whole Championship. A league, that has dipped in quality over the last couple of years and is only recovering, since the "work permit rules" have softened after a stricter approach right after Brexit.

Might be easier for some lower level Championship players to adapt to the pace of the PL, less so with the individual quality.

Different playing style obviously an issue for Serie A players coming over to England. Not all black and white in terms of comparing league. Some surprising numbers in terms of sprint levels and increase in intensity runs over the last year, when it comes to leagues, like Serie A or La Liga, that are known for being a bit slower.


State of the Italian NT not really = with the state of Serie A. Team had been really successful in the past, when the national league had poor seasons or had been in crisis. More of a problem now of poor youth development in some areas of Italy and a huge influx of foreign talent.