Jota Silva medical update emerges for bargain deal after West Ham United transfer interest
West Ham have seemingly now lost out on Jota Silva to Nottingham Forest in the latest frustration of the summer transfer window.
The Irons have been linked to the Portuguese attacker for months as they looked to boost the wide options at the London Stadium [Express, 23 April].
Tim Steidten has brought in Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras this summer but after the exits of both Pablo Fornals and Said Benraham in the past two windows new boss Julen Lopetegui is still short of options in attacking midfield roles.
The Hammers were even said to be ready to pay Silva’s £17.2million release clause in Portugal to see off rivals [OJogo, 8 May] but such a bid never materialised.
A deal for the winger looked to be there for the taking after he was “offered” to the Irons [Alex Crook, 11 June] but instead he looks to be heading to the City Ground, and for a bargain fee.
Nottingham Forest to sign West Ham target
Fabrizio Romano reported via X on 31 July that 24-year-old is now travelling for his Forest medical with a verbal agreement in place with Vitoria de Guimaraes for an up-front fee of just €7million [£5.9m], with two more €3m add-ons [£2.5m] if he plays 15 games and scores 10 goals respectively.
Steidten and Lopetegui may have to balance the budget this summer as they look to strengthen in various areas, especially until they can sell Nayef Aguerd or Kurt Zouma.
But the low fee suggests they could have added a target they liked for a knock-down price to flesh out an area of the squad that remains thin.
When so many pursuits are turning out to be in vain during the transfer window it won’t do anything to lift the mood for a Premier League rival to swoop in and pull off a coup for a player the Hammers felt was too much to commit to.
Fabricio Bruno, N’Golo Kante, Youssouf Fofana, Jean-Clair Todibo and, so far, Jhon Duran have all either turned the club down or proven impossible to secure.
So to see Silva head to the City Ground on a friendly-looking deal is another frustration at the London Stadium.
A move for Aaron Wan-Bissaka therefore needs to be wrapped up quickly now from Manchester United so focus can be turned to addressing the remaining issues in the squad, and there is confidence that it is now close [Dharmesh Sheth, 31 July], Borussia Dortmund’s Niclas Fullkrug on the cards after that [Sky Sports, 31 July].
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are set to abandon another chase that is too expensive for them.
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