West Ham United in immediate talks to sign Adnan Januzaj on free transfer
West Ham United are in talks to sign former Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj on a free transfer, according to Simon Phillips.
The Belgian international wanted to leave Real Sociedad at the end of last season and let his contract expire as a result but he has not yet found a new club with the season already on the way.
He is keen on a move to England though and joined his former teammate Alexader Isak (who is Newcastle-bound) on a plane to the UK and stayed in London on Thursday night.
“Januzaj and Isak have actually been very close throughout the summer. They’ve been training on their own for a lot of the summer together,” Phillips said to Give Me Sport.
“They both were looking to leave Real Sociedad and they both travelled over together and they stayed in the same hotel in London last night.
“Januzaj has been looking to join West Ham. About a month ago, it looked like that a deal might be close and then West Ham switched to other options. I’m told that negotiations are going on right now with Januzaj.”
Bargain
The 27-year-old hasn’t hit the heights that many expected of him when he burst onto the scene for United under now-Hammers manager David Moyes but he is still someone who could make a big impact at the London Stadium.
Whether that comes in the shape of cover for Jarrod Bowen on the right wing or as a starter off the left, Januzaj represents superb value in the market given the rising costs of buying players from other clubs.
A winger has been on the Irons’ agenda this summer but there have been other priorities that have had to take precedent until now which has narrowed their options somewhat.
They are rather fortunate, in that case, that the Belgian is still available given his status as a free agent will see the club get straight to player negotiations instead of the back and forth of transfer negotiations with a club.
This one could progress quickly.