The on/off Said Benrahma saga continues with the Guardian claiming an attempted £30m move could still happen despite the deal running into complications.
All media sources and the author of the new report Jacob Steinberg revealed earlier today the deal was in danger of collapsing because of a sticking point between the winger and his current club Brentford.
However, the latest report claims the Hammers have agreed to pay an initial £25m plus £5m in add-ons to sign Benrahma.
Steiberg claims that whilst the deal has stalled in the last 24 hours, the east Londoners remain confident the player dubbed “the Algerian Messi” will join them.
As we revealed last night when first revealing the deal could be in trouble, Bournemouth’s Joshua King is the Hammers safety net should they miss out on the Brentford star.
The Hammers ramped up their interest in Benrahma, who was one of the standout players in the Championship last season, and had a £13m bid for King rejected on Sunday.
Bournemouth are holding out for £17.5m for the forward, who is out of contract next summer. King wants to return to the Premier League following Bournemouth’s relegation and West Ham have not ruled out making an improved offer for the Norway international.
ClaretandHugh says: Nothing is straightforward at West Ham. Whilst very few transfers are simple none ever seem to be as complicated as they turn out to be at West Ham. This is probably because the Irons is as leaky an outfit as you have in football despite internal promises that this will stop and we understand there was even a board meeting decision to ensure that happed which was carried unanimously. It of course made no difference with talkSport quoting David Sullivan on and off the record. An odd state of affairs. Essentially talks are continuing but everything remains uncertain on the negotiations because it’s also now well known that we are retaining our interest in Josh King. No doubt one or the other will arrive but you can bet your life away it will go right down to the wire and there will be denial and counter denial along the way.
Any ideas why we would sell an incredible gifted young wide left player who we know well and was as desperate to play for the club, to buy a wide player who looked average in the big games last season and plays in the same position as the guy we just sold and pay 50percent more for, plus no doubt a ridiculous agent fee and wages?
Makes no sense.
King would make More sense because he’s more mobile than Haller and could play as two up or one up.
Obviously didn’t really fancy Dawson or they would have bought him, desperate loan deal.
Negotiations are always bluff and call. Even the representatives don’t know what the outcome will be.
Not right to suggest he is anything like Messi. If John Terry had kneed Benrahma in the back the way he did Messi, Benrahma would still be lying on the ground
At last a better picture and benrahma is hopefully joining on Wednesday. As for king way overpriced and although different type of player to Ben his nowhere near as talented and 28 with no sell on. Forget him and Dawson another waste of money until we get better quality in Jan for both positions . Talking to Bournemouth fans good player king but has long periods of disinterest in matches which we don’t need as we have a few already like that. Young quality players only please otherwise wait .