West Ham United transfer news as Fulham provide response to £40m Joao Palhinha bid

Fulham have rejected a £40m bid from West Ham United for Joao Palhinha, according to journalist Jack Rosser.

Palhinha has long been linked with a move across London and the Hammers now have room to manoeuvre following the £105m sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal.

TalkSPORT reported on 16 July that West Ham had tabled a big-money £40m bid on the table for the Portuguese international but according to Rosser, taking to his personal Twitter account (17 July), that bid has been swiftly rejected by the West Londoners.

He tweeted: "Exclusive: Fulham have rejected a £40million bid from West Ham for Joao Palhinha.

"More talks expected this week."

Return to the table

With West Ham United now holding a considerable war chest available following the departure of Rice over the weekend, they now have plenty of wiggle room in the transfer market.

However, such a sale does have its disadvantages as clubs now know what kind of transfer warchest West Ham United will be dealing with meaning they can demand huge money for potential targets.

That is what Fulham are taking advantage of right now, and the £40m bid placed for Palhinha was always going to be rejected given his undeniable qualities and importance to the Cottagers.

It's certainly going to take a bid in the region of £60m-plus for Fulham to even consider listening to and given the Portuguese' stark qualities and suitability to fulfilling the gaping Rice hole, the Hammers should return to the table with another offer.

Palhinha would represent a statement acquisition for the East Londoners and the kind of signing that could evolve the whole club from the get-go. Why not try again?

In other West Ham news, the Hammers are ready to test Harry Maguire’s resolve to stay at Manchester United.