West Ham price named for Pablo Fornals transfer after contract clause triggered
West Ham have added a price tag of £8million-£12million to Pablo Fornals after triggering a one-year extension on his current contract, according to Claret and Hugh.
Fornals joined the Hammers in June 2019 for a reported £26million and has since made 194 appearances. However, he has fallen down David Moyes’ pecking order this season, starting six games in all competitions.
Now, having added an extra year onto the Spaniard’s stay at the London Stadium, Claret and Hugh report West Ham are asking for a transfer fee between £8million and £12million, with several clubs interested in his signature.
However, they added that West Ham are not looking to sell Fornals until the summer transfer window.
Gradually frozen out
While it may seem strange that the player’s contract has been extended despite his serious lack of playing time, especially compared to last season, West Ham did not need Fornals to give consent for the clause to be activated.
Fornals’ contract will run until June 2025. This way, the club can receive payment if he is to depart in January or at the end of the season, instead of losing the midfielder to a free transfer or a smaller fee.
West Ham had a memorable campaign last time despite struggling to a 14th-place finish in the Premier League, having lifted the Europa Conference League trophy in Prague.
Playing half a century of matches across all competitions, Fornals was a massive part of the club’s journey to their first piece of European silverware since lifting the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1965.
However, it is clear that the midfielder is no longer central to Moyes’ plans and is beginning to be edged out of London.
With Mohammed Kudus, Said Benrahma, and Maxwel Cornet heading out to play at the Africa Cup of Nations in January, it feels as though the Hammers will be reticent to let Fornals leave next month, but beyond that it looks like Fornals will be allowed to depart.
In other West Ham news, club want to sign ‘one of the most promising’ European midfielders in January.