West Ham United plan cash-in on Pablo Fornals transfer to sign three men in January
West Ham are planning to “cash in” on Pablo Fornals in the January window despite activating the option in his contract, according to 90min.
The outlet reported via their website on 15 December that the Spaniard is still for sale despite the year extension being applied as the club made the move in order to save the 197-appearance Hammers favourite leaving for free.
Fornals reportedly would prefer to return to Spain although he had interest from the Saudi Pro League in the summer.
West Ham are hoping to recoup part of the £24million they spent to bring the 27-year-old in from Villarreal four and a half years ago, in order to help fund moves for three players in the winter window.
With exits on the cards sooner or later at full-back behind regular starters Emerson and Vladimir Coufal the Irons reportedly want to bring in two new options at the position, as Ben Johnson and Aaron Cresswell are on the way out and Thilo Kehrer could also be sold.
In addition, the age-old question of striker remains on the agenda and West Ham are hoping to add there once again with Michail Antonio still of interest to Saudi sides, as in the summer, and said to himself be interested in making the move.
Best laid plans
All of those intentions sound quite logical for West Ham and if they are able to successfully pull them off midseason it should leave the squad looking more balanced.
It is easier said than done though in January, and both full-back and striker have been near the top of the list for at least two windows already.
Danny Ings arrival last January hasn’t had anything like the impact he or David Moyes would have hoped for, and after Gianluca Scamacca left in the summer the options have been left light up top.
West Ham were linked to a number of forwards and full-backs ahead of the new season and, despite eventually doing some good work in the window at other positions, failed to do so.
Antonio and Cresswell have also been linked with departures for a year now and haven’t been able to move on due to an inability to replace them.
So transfer plans for next month are one thing but the important matter is whether West Ham will successfully follow through with them this time.
In other West Ham news, Moyes future appears to have been sealed following the 5-0 thrashing at Fulham.