West Ham are making moves to sign their Mateus Fernandes replacement as soon as possible, according to reports coming out of Senegal.
The Portugal international has been the subject of increased transfer speculation in recent weeks, with West Ham reportedly resigned to letting him go this summer regardless of their league status.
Fernandes’ £40m switch from Southampton last summer initially raised some eyebrows, but the 21-year-old has enjoyed an impressive maiden season at London Stadium, leading to the midfielder being shortlisted for the Premier League Young Player of the Season Award.
It’s not yet known how much it will cost for a club to successfully prise Fernandes away from east London but even if relegation to the Championship is confirmed this week, the Hammers should be confident of still turning a profit on him given his age and level of performances since arriving.
West Ham identify Toure as Fernandes’ replacement
According to Dsports in Senegal, West Ham have reached an agreement in principal to sign FC Metz defensive midfielder Alpha Toure.
It’s claimed the Hammers had a January bid of €7m rejected for the 20-year-old, but have now agreed to pay €6.9m for his signature ahead of the summer.
With talks ongoing, it’s reported that West Ham have a significant advantage of other interested clubs, which includes Anderlecht and Besiktas.
After January, Toure commented on West Ham’s interest and admitted that playing in the Premier League is a dream of his.
Speaking to Africa Foot, he said: “It’s always flattering when clubs like West Ham or Besiktas show interest in me. It shows that I still have to work hard.
“But I’m under contract with Metz and I’m very focused on my season. I leave that to my representatives and the club.
“The Premier League is a very intense championship, with a lot of pace and impact. It’s a dream for many players. But one thing at a time.”
Will relegation prevent Toure signing?
After West Ham’s 3-1 defeat to Newcastle on Sunday, relegation to the Championship is all but confirmed.
The Hammers need Tottenham to lose both of their last two games and then must beat Leeds on the final weekend to ensure survival. A single point for Spurs against either Chelsea or Everton will be enough to relegate West Ham.
What that means for the potential arrival of Toure remains unclear. Should Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side slip into England’s second tier, the calibre of player they can realistically sign goes down slightly.
Whether that applies to Toure or not is not yet known. However, given his price – roughly £6m – it would represent a good value deal to replace the inevitable hole in midfield once Fernandes is eventually sold.
However, with Toure admitting he already has one eye on the Premier League, will he be interested in taking the scenic route and playing at least one season in the Championship first?
That remains to be seen.
