Flynn Downes might be prevented from moving to Southampton because West Ham needs to meet their homegrown player quota.
While Tim Steidten is in Brazil attempting to recruit South American talent, West Ham urgently needs to sign English players this summer.
With the departure of players like Ben Johnson, West Ham faces challenges in meeting their homegrown player quota. Thus, it would be logical for them to limit the number of English players leaving. However, given his exceptional performance during his loan spell at Southampton, it’s understandable why they are eager to secure his permanent signing.
Unfortunately for Southampton, The Sun reports that West Ham might retain him solely to fulfill their quota, regardless of their intentions to utilize him in their squad.
Despite his allegiance as a lifelong West Ham fan, Downes prioritizes his career, as he should, and has openly expressed his willingness to return to the south coast. He formed a strong bond with the fans and played a crucial role in Russell Martin’s tactical setup. However, if presented with the chance to excel once more at West Ham under Julen Lopetegui, it’s challenging to envision him rejecting such an opportunity.
If the decision is made to sell him, it’s imperative that they reinvest the funds into acquiring another midfielder, preferably an English one. However, considering the likely transfer fee for Downes, it raises the question of who else would be worth signing in his place. Had Downes been permanently at Southampton and performing at the same level, West Ham would likely be pursuing him. So, it’s puzzling why they would be willing to let him leave without considering his value to their squad.