As if transfer windows are not hectic enough – West Ham United, for instance, plan to respond to a poor Premier League campaign with potentially over five new signings – the Club World Cup creates further difficulties.

The likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are due to take part in a revamped, 32-team tournament running from mid-June to mid-July.

As such, not only will those clubs potentially look to keep departing players until later in the window, they may also look to fast-forward any new signings before the competition kicks off.

Real Madrid, for instance, hope to have Trent Alexander-Arnold available before their Club World Cup campaign begins against Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal on June 18th.

It remains to be seen if, or how, West Ham United are affected by the sudden appearance of a tournament in the middle of the transfer window. West Ham like James McAtee but he may have a part to play over the summer for Man City.

Edson Alvarez is reportedly a target for Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund. Two more Club World Cup participants.

When it comes to the prolific Ukrainian striker Vladyslav Vanat, meanwhile, Dynamo Kyiv have their own reasons for keeping hold of the West Ham-linked Golden Boot winner until the final few weeks of the window.

West Ham-linked Vladyslav Vanat may have to wait until August

TBR Football reporter Graeme Bailey claims that West Ham have looked at the £17 million-rated Vladyslav Vanat alongside Brentford, Leeds United and Fulham.

After claiming the Ukrainian Premier League’s Golden Boot in 2024, Vanat looks set to retain his prize. Of his 21 goals across all competitions, 17 have come in league action this term.

But, with extra information emerging now via Ideal Dynamo on their Telegram channel, West Ham may have to be patient in their pursuit of the ten-time Ukraine international.

Dynamo Kyiv hope to have Vanat leading the line until after the Champions League qualifiers come to an end. That means, should Dynamo reach the last phase of the play-offs in late-August, Vanat’s suitors would potentially have only five days to get a deal done.

Leeds United and Fulham seen as most likely destinations

Ideal Dynamo adds, meanwhile, that Leeds and Fulham are the clubs showing the most interest at this stage.

This does not mean West Ham can be discounted. They too are in the market for a centre-forward. Aren’t they always?

But as West Ham consider Emanuel Emegha, Liam Delap, Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos as well, amongst a whole host of other talented number nines, perhaps Vanat falls a little lower on the London Stadium wishlist.

“After this season, Vladislav Vanat definitely needs to be sold because he has had a great campaign,” reporter Sergey Lukyanenko tells VZBIRNA. “We see his progress, we see how he solves situations, we see great play from him.

“I watch in the Cup final [a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk this month’] how he runs from the centre of the field to his penalty area, he just makes an unreal sprint almost in extra time. And I watch how he goes to take the penalty first for Dynamo.

“This made me seriously respect him. The guy takes on the responsibility of being the first to take the penalty in the Ukrainian Cup final.

It seems to me that his level of confidence is great now, his level of football is good, his implementation is also good. So, he needs to go.”

A London Stadium source, speaking to Hammers News, claim that West Ham plan to ‘reinvent’ Graham Potter’s squad with young, hungry players. Their tally of summer signings, meanwhile, could rise beyond five.