Liverpool, Tottenham and West Ham Ménage à Trois Spied through the Transfer Window

Something went badly wrong in West Ham's Mission Control yesterday. Remember that we were on the point of signing Caicedo but pulled out at the last moment because of the limit on domestic loan signings. So who was the mystery second man who we anticipated landing?

There were rumours that it was Yobo but that makes no sense. We are overloaded with centre backs and our priorities were full backs and another striker. The suspicion is that it was Robbie Keane - but why would Spurs let us have the Irishman on loan after everything Sullivan said about Tottenham following the approach for Parker?

The truth probably hinges around Van der Vaart, Carlton Cole, the groin injury to Defoe and Sulllivan's greed. What seems pretty certain is that Liverpool wanted Cole and that Tottenham needed Babel before they could release Keane. But to release Babel, Liverpool needed to secure Cole.

So we now had three rival clubs in a triangle. Tottenham wanted Parker but to land him, had to give us Keane on loan. Liverpool wanted Cole but had to come up with our valuation before we would sell him. Babel and Keane were the oil needed to allow the transfer gears to turn.

The issue was now one of valuation. Unfortunately for Sullivan, Sunderland decided they didn't want Cole after all, removing them from a potential bidding war. This left Liverpool as Carlton's only suitor and they didn't value Cole above £10million. Babel, meanwhile, appears to have been less than happy about the way he was being used as a trading chip and started to dig his heels in.

At this point, Van der Vaart came into the equation. As far as Tottenham were concerned, they were only involved in this ménage à trois  because they wanted Parker. But they rightly valued Parker at a maximum of £7million and West Ham wanted over £10million. But why would Levy pay more for Parker than for the 27 year old Van der Vaart? The Dutchman is better and younger.

Suddenly Tottenham climbed out of bed. Here was a solution that allowed 'Arry to buy the midfield enforcer he needed without parting with Keane. Babel wasn't needed and nor was Parker; West Ham could go to hell!

And it looks like we were, indeed, roundly stuffed. When the dust has settled, we potentially have a weaker squad than at the beginning of last week. The suggestion that Diamanti and Daprela departed to offset stage payments on Savio makes sense - and that means we have lost our only cover for left back and the only player who scored goals from midfield last season, not because we wanted to sell them, but because we couldn't afford to meet financial commitments to Brescia. We desperately needed to bring in goal scorers, both up front and in midfield, but failed to do so. The signing of Jacobsen, even if it has happened, hardly fills me with excitement. Yes he is in the Denmark team but he has not been a regular at either Everton or Blackburn. He is a journeyman suited to the Championship, which may well be where we are heading now.

We were roundly shafted yesterday. Tottenham climbed out of bed having got what they wanted in the end and we now find ourselves jilted. Cole knows that he is only at the club because we couldn't do the deal and not because we particularly want him. Parker remains, but only because Van der Vaart was a better option for Spurs, not because his heart is in playing for West Ham. Doesn't it strike you as odd that it was only yesterday that he publicly committed himself to West Ham? The right back problem has not been resolved, we have no alternative for left back, the midfield remains imbalanced and the wage bill has almost certainly gone up. If we go down, how much will we get for Parker in 12 month's time? £3million max.

Yesterday was a disastrous day for the club and relegation became more likely.