Pablo Fornals lined up for cut-price West Ham United exit as ‘magnificent’ Sevilla eye deal Betis could not afford
Pablo Fornals wants to return to La Liga and multiple Spanish clubs have made enquiries over a West Ham exit, according to AS.
The Spanish publication reported on their website Saturday (19 August) that Sevilla are now eyeing up a move for the Hammers attacker having “surveyed” his situation to “gauge their chances” of striking a deal, after rivals Real Betis were unable to afford his wages.
According to AS the 27-year-old, who started the opening day draw at Bournemouth, could be available for between €5million and €8million [£4.27m-£6.84m] as he has now entered the final year of his contract.
Fornals reportedly believes a move to Sevilla, with the possibility of qualifying for the Champions League, would be a “magnificent place to continue his career”, even though the southern Spanish club only finished 12th last season in La Liga.
Late
Fornals looks like he’s on the way out sooner or later and were this perhaps two months ago it would probably make sense to have the Europa Conference League triumph be his final outing and take the money while it was available.
But this late in the window and with various other bits of business already set to be crammed into the final fortnight it might be leaving the Hammers short to let him go now.
David Moyes starting him on the south coast last weekend showed that he still has a role to play so unless an adequate replacement can be sourced in short time it seems a risk to let him go.
Considering the huge money that West Ham have already brought in through sales this summer, even allowing for the fact that they won’t be getting the lions share of another £100m to sell Lucas Paqueta to Manchester City, the cash involved in a Fornals deal might not be worth parting with him.
Mohammed Kudus is being pushed for and would be the sort of player who could easily replace Fornals, but with the Ajax star potentially needed as a striker replacement after Gianluca Scamacca left, with Michail Antonio wanting to go too, his talents are required elsewhere if a deal can be sealed.
And, dependent on the outcome of the FA investigation into Paqueta regarding betting rules, the club now have to guard against the possibility that he might be suspended, so Fornals may have to wait to get his move back to Spain.
In other West Ham news, Tim Steidten is trying to push a deal over the line because he knows he is at risk of a hijack from multiple league rivals.