Said Benrahma exit deal hits the skids at West Ham United as last-gasp Saudi transfer dream emerges
West Ham forward Said Benrahma is stalling on a move to join Lyon before Thursday’s deadline, according to Alan Nixon.
The Sun newspaper journalist shared on his Patreon account (1 February) that the Algerian forward is unsure about whether he wants to join the French club amid hopes that a Saudi Pro League club will come for him later on.
L’Equipe reported on 30 January that Lyon will pay a €5million (£4.2m) loan fee for the 28-year-old until the end of the season and then will have the option to buy worth an additional €10million (£8.5m) should they want to keep the Algerian attacker beyond the summer.
However, as Nixon points out, it seems Benrahma is holding out for a Saudi Arabia move which presents a problem for the Hammers with the Saudi window closed before the end of January.
Sticking point
It seems the Hammers are happy to allow Benrahma to leave the club despite their limited options in attack and that can tell fans all they need to know about how he’s been viewed at West Ham recently.
With Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta and Mohammed Kudus all preferred to him, the Algerian has made five league starts and when given the opportunity by David Moyes, he’s flattered to deceive every time.
£15m fee for a player who hasn’t enjoyed a decent 90-minute display for the club is an excellent business but the Algerian’s hesitancy in leaving is now becoming a huge problem for a club wanting to offload.
It seems as if Benrahma is now holding out for a summer move with the Saudi transfer window closed already. It is clear the former Brentford man is on his last legs at the club but could yet stay for another five months.
West Ham may get more money if that were the case given the amounts Saudi clubs have been throwing at European clubs in order to strengthen their league but whether the Irons will be willing to wait until then to ship him out is another matter entirely.
If Benrahma stays, then there is no chance the club can be able to sign a replacement.
In other West Ham news, the man at the centre of a transfer window controversy wants the Hammers to sign him.
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