West Ham have placed a lot of focus in rejuvenating their defensive line so far this summer but Manuel Pellegrini may be set to miss out on one target.
The Daily Mail states Southampton have joined the chase for Barcelona defender Marlon Santos and are preparing an £11m move to beat the Hammers to his services.
Santos has been heavily linked with a move to the London Stadium this summer after the Spanish giants cut-short his loan deal with OGC Nice, although reports cooled following the signing of Issa Diop.
It is claimed that West Ham had a £13m deal in place for the 22-year-old and could now miss out entirely, with the Saints having held positive talks with the LaLiga champions last week.
West Ham are deciding whether to push ahead with a move for Santos or whether to pursue alternative targets, which include Swansea City’s Alfie Mawson, but any further delays could lead to complications in the market.
