A worrying West Ham transfer update has emerged from a very reliable source this week...

What's the word?

Speaking on the latest episode of 'The West Ham Way' podcast, the anonymous ExWHUemployee delivered a fresh update on the club's transfer plans and it's not very good news.

"I know people are getting really stressed about it already. I don’t think there will be much movement until after the Euros. Any talk that players are close to signing generally isn’t true," he said.

"The players we are interested in, we won’t start bidding for until a couple of weeks time. We always want to see what the best value is out there which I know is a strategy that not many people like.

"There are loads of targets, particularly at centre-back. I think we just have to hold on and hope that some of these players we are interested in don’t move elsewhere. It’s obviously an annoying strategy."

Fatal mistake

It seems as if the Hammers are setting themselves up for disaster with this sort of approach this summer.

If manager David Moyes has his targets, then the East London outfit ought to already be working on signing them, rather than waiting another two weeks to do business.

They risk either said player's fee rising because of performances at Euro 2020 or demand in his services, as well as the prospect of missing out on the target altogether.

That is something that already appears to be the case as Barcelona defender Junior Firpo looks to have chosen the Irons' top-flight rivals Leeds United over a move to the London Stadium.

He now gets the chance to punish Moyes and co at least twice next season.

The Scotsman needs additions right across the pitch if they are to remain competitive as thanks to their qualification into the Europa League, two matches a week (Thursday-Sunday) are likely to become the norm and if they go well in the competition, it's likely they will play 50 or more games.

Moyes is only one injury to a Michail Antonio or a Declan Rice away from a nightmare. Neither have solid backup options behind them. Not to mention that a central defender appears to be a clear priority for the 58-year-old too.

All in all, waiting to conduct business should have many Hammers fans hugely worried - they'll only have themselves to blame if other targets go elsewhere in the coming days.

AND in other news, Moyes set for huge West Ham boost as intriguing Rush Green development emerges...