Fabrizio Romano: Nicolas Tagliafico will not join West Ham
Ajax left-back Nicolas Tagliafico will not be joining West Ham United ahead of the transfer deadline, according to Fabrizio Romano.
De Telegraaf reported on their website on Monday afternoon that both clubs had reached a verbal agreement of £10.3million over a deal, with personal terms the only hurdle left to be scaled.
They further claimed that Tagliafico’s agent was in Amsterdam to thrash out a move, but that appears to be false.
The Daily Express also reported this morning that Ajax have accepted a £10million bid from West Ham for the 28-year-old Argentina international.
Romano has posted on his personal Twitter account on Tuesday evening that a move was never on the cards, ruling out any chances of a last-ditch arrival.
The Sky Sports journalist said: “Nicolas Tagliafico will not join West Ham, never been close.
“The Argentinian left-back is staying at Ajax this summer.”
Move off
West Ham could do with a new left-back given their lack of reliable depth in the position, but links with Tagliafico look to have been agent talks all along.
Players are often offered to clubs, and that appears to have been the case here.
The two-time Eredivisie winner has enough experience and quality to give Aaron Cresswell a run for his money at the London Stadium, but a new left-back is not a priority despite Arthur Masuaku’s fitness battles in recent months.
The Hammers are unable to pay that amount for any major signings right now having signed Kurt Zouma and Nikola Vlasic.
Manager David Moyes will be sticking with his left-back options till at least January, and given his ability to always adapt, West Ham will definitely come up with a solution even if both Cresswell and Masuaku are to become unavailable at the same time.
In other West Ham news, international ace is unlikely to complete Hammers move due to family reasons.
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