West Ham United: Real Betis await 11th-hour Pablo Fornals transfer confirmation, clarity now expected Friday

Real Betis are waiting to find out if the deal to sign West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals has been finalised, according to Dharmesh Sheth.

The Sky Sports news reporter (2 February) shared on his personal X account that both parties believe the correct documentation has been processed in time to complete the transfer.

Clarity on whether the deal has gone through is now expected on Friday (2 February).

TNT Sports posted a video on Twitter of the Spanish international on his phone after the full-time whistle of the game between the Hammers and Bournemouth on Thursday (1 February) despite a permanent deal between the two parties were agreed on Deadline Day, where he was wearing an Irons tracksuit.

Sheth posted: “Real Betis still waiting to find out if the deal to sign West Ham United midfielder Pablo Fornals has been finalised. All parties believe the correct documentation was processed in time. Clarity on whether the deal has gone through is expected on Friday.”

Drama

It always seems so strange when clubs leave it so late in the transfer window to get a deal done when they’ve had an entire month to do business.

West Ham and Real Betis have been haggling over a transfer fee over the past few days and that’s what has prevented the deal from moving forward quicker.

And now it may look as if Fornals has been denied his dream return to Spain and there’s a case to argue that because West Ham could not sign any players on Deadline Day, they’ve purposely sabotaged this deal to ensure Fornals remains.

It remains to be seen whether that is the case as both parties await confirmation on Friday but this is yet another transfer deadline day drama for West Ham.

It was strange seeing Fornals on the sidelines at the London Stadium against Bournemouth when he should really have been in Spain to complete his 11th-hour move.

If he does end up staying, there should still be a role for him with the team in the second half of the campaign as the Hammers look to fight on two fronts over the next few months.

In other West Ham news, a profit and sustainability situation has emerged in one Premier League club’s pursuit of a Hammers player.

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