Report: Fernandes chances now at 80%
As usual in the transfer market silly season, plenty of players are being linked with West Ham United. This seems to happen every time.
But the one name which keeps popping up at the moment – think Maxi Gomez levels of speculation – is Benfica midfielder Gedson Fernandes.
First, Sky Sports reported on Friday that the east London outfit are in talks with the Portuguese giants over an 18-month loan deal with an option to buy.
Now, reliable Hammers news source Claret & Hugh has claimed that the club’s chances of securing the 20-year-old’s signature currently stand at 80%.
This is thought to be a boost from where things were before. The youngster is said to favour a London Stadium switch over a move to Manchester United because his mother lives in the capital.
He has now swapped agents to help secure a move to the Premier League, with the Irons understood to be ready to pay Benfica’s £34million valuation at the end of the loan period.
West Ham Zone’s View
This all sounds very encouraging for David Moyes’ team, doesn’t it? Fernandes is clearly an exciting young prospect, and they seem to have the upper hand in pursuit of him.
80% is a very strong percentage. It’s not definitive, of course, and there’s likely a long way to go yet, but things are looking good, that’s for sure.
The fact that the player’s mother lives in London is clearly a key factor, big enough to make the midfielder want to eschew a club the size of Man United.
If that works in the Hammers’ favour then that’s all the better, though.
In other West Ham news, the club are reportedly in talks with a former Hammers winger over a coaching role at the London Stadium.