As revealed in an exclusive by the Mirror last night, West Ham’s Karen Brady could be the woman to thank for our deadline day signing of Islam Slimani, with Leicester City refusing to do business with her after she made ‘offensive’ comments about the club’s sacking of Claudio Ranieri in a recent article!
So, after already gifting us 3 points both home and away this season, it appears the Hammers have also given us a helping hand in the signing of our new striker!
Good to see that we aren’t the only club whose owners make a mockery of themselves in the transfer market, especially when we were the ones who ended up winning the race to loan Leicester’s £29m man.
West Ham’s interest in Slimani was being reported on deadline day and, like any NUFC fan, I wasn’t too optimistic when they entered the race. We’ve made a habit of ‘missing out’ on deals to rival clubs (see Sturridge to West Brom etc.) so I feared the same may apply here.
As it turns out, their interest ended up having the total opposite effect, with Brady appearing to play a big part in ruining their chances and improving ours. As you’d expect, West Ham fans aren’t too pleased:
So Leicester refused to loan us Islam Slimani because of a Karren Brady article, which their owners took offence to. It just never ends does it. What a fucking circus club.
— West Ham News (@WHUFC_News) February 1, 2018
1) …and speaking of West Ham — a @MirrorDarren exclusive on how Karren Brady cost them any shot at signing Islam Slimani #WHUFC #NUFC #LCFChttps://t.co/ieFQ3DVBt3 pic.twitter.com/olGGMIW51I
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) February 1, 2018
Here’s what the Mirror had to say on the situation that unfolded on deadline day:
“West Ham blew the chance to sign striker Islam Slimani because Leicester refused to do business with Karren Brady.
The London club’s vice-chair is understood to have annoyed Foxes supremo Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
He was still seething over comments made by Baroness Brady in a weekly newspaper column about his dismissal of coach Claudio Ranieri last year.
West Ham are understood to have apologised previously for any offence caused, but Leicester remained unmoved.
This week, in an attempt to clinch a beat-the-deadline deal, a West ham boss called to ask if they could sign Slimani.
Leicester categorically refused, and cited Brady’s previous comments and the 29-year-old went on to join Newcastle on loan for the rest of season.”
Cheers Karen!
