West Ham can’t laugh too hard at shock Stoke City transfer news | OneFootball

Stoke City reportedly have an interest in Swansea City's Ethan Galbraith, as the Hammers shouldn't underestimate the Potters' pull

With the summer transfer window well and truly underway, West Ham United's reality that they will be playing Championship football next season is edging ever closer, as the Hammers now find themselves competing with second-tier clubs for certain players, but ought not to underestimate their competition.

With the transfer window open, West Ham haven't exactly come bursting out of the blocks, with no departures or additions thus far, aside from Keiber Lamadrid's loan deal becoming a permanent one.

Portuguese head coach Nuno Espirito Santo is set to guide the club into the Championship despite being unable to save the club from relegation, but under the former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest boss, they can rest assured that they are in safe hands.

Nuno previously guided Wolves to the second-tier title back in 2018, backed by the star power of the likes of Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota, and Willy Boly, and will be hoping for similar strength in his squad this time around.

The Hammers will almost certainly be linked with an array of talented names throughout the course of the next weeks and months, and will surely face competition for those signatures, as has emerged as the case recently, as West Ham cannot afford to underestimate their opponents in the market.

West Ham United cannot underestimate Stoke City in chase for Swansea City star Ethan Galbraith despite Potters' shock interest

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As West Ham prepare themselves for the trials and tribulations the Championship will have to throw at them, Nuno will be busy drawing up a long shortlist of transfer targets for the club to pursue this summer.

The likes of Jarrod Bowen, Mateus Fernandes, and Crysencio Summerville have all been linked with moves elsewhere following relegation, and it would be no surprise if they were to be followed out of East London by a few more.

West Ham may need to raise funds to offset the losses of Premier League revenue, and the likes of Bowen, Fernandes, and Summerville would be the likely three to draw the biggest transfer fees.

In terms of incomings, it has been relatively quiet, but the Hammers ought to keep one eye on Swansea City midfielder Ethan Galbraith, with the Northern Irish midfielder drawing shock interest from Stoke City.

Galbraith, 25, came through the ranks at Manchester United, and had spells out on loan with the likes of Doncaster Rovers and Salford City before completing a move to Leyton Orient in the summer of 2023 on a free transfer.

He'd spend two seasons at Brisbane Road, impressing in both, and subsequently enticed Swansea into parting ways with around £1.5 million to bring him to South Wales last summer, in a deal which now looks to be a real coup.

Galbraith starred in his first year in the second tier, making 39 league appearances for the Swans, and, by most accounts, was their standout midfielder despite possessing the likes of Malick Yalcouye, Marko Stamenic, and Goncalo Franco.

The Northern Irishman also featured heavily at right-back and performed admirably, highlighting his capability of covering numerous areas of the pitch to great effect, with it being no surprise that West Ham, as well as Wrexham, have held an interest in him previously.

Stoke's interest comes as a real surprise, not because the Potters wouldn't want a player of Galbraith's quality, but because they believe they could strike up a deal.

Galbraith, despite rejecting a fresh contract in South Wales a couple of months ago, won't come cheap, with a deal running until the summer of 2028, and Swansea having the option to extend those terms by an extra year if they wish.

Stoke are bankrolled by the Coates family, who own bet365, and have consistently pumped money into the club over the years despite continuous failures on the pitch, and are seemingly willing to continue that trend.

option to extend those terms by an extra year

West Ham mustn't underestimate Stoke, despite the Potters' lack of success in recent years, and must ensure that they don't miss out on a deal for Galbraith to their division rivals, in what would be a huge blow for the club.

Nuno Espirito Santo must accelerate West Ham United's transfer business this summer following fresh Stoke City interest in Ethan Galbraith

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Whilst the summer has yet to click into gear for West Ham, it will be an undoubtedly busy summer for the Irons, who will be aiming to ensure their stay in the second tier is as short-lived as possible.

Galbraith would be an excellent addition to Nuno's midfield, and the Portuguese boss simply mustn't brush off Stoke's interest in the Northern Irishman.

Whislt West Ham is almost certainly a more attractive proposition than the Potteries in almost every aspect, Nuno mustn't bank on that being the case, and should take the Potters' pursuit seriously.

With Wrexham also lurking, the North Welsh club will almost certainly put up a fight too, as West Ham should show their authority in the transfer market by completing a deal for Galbraith as soon as possible.