West Ham United sources share Pablo Fornals as £12m transfer verdict emerges
West Ham United “sources” suggest the Irons are not planning to sell midfielder Pablo Fornals in the January transfer window despite recent speculation, according to Claret & Hugh.
The outlet reported on its website on Thursday (28 December) that the 27-year-old is expected to be nearing the end of his time at the London Stadium, but sources have said that no deal is expected to be completed during the January window.
Instead, the Hammers will be looking to earn between £10 million and £12 million in the summer window following the conclusion of the season, despite interest from both Sevilla and various other European clubs.
Reports emerged earlier in the week that Fornals was keen to move back to his homeland during the January window, but it now seems likely that any such move will be delayed until the end of the season [West Ham Football, 27 December].
Makes sense
Fornals may want to return to Spain when the transfer window opens, but West Ham and David Moyes cannot afford to leave themselves short of options during the second half of the season.
While the Spanish midfielder may have been a bit part player in the opening months of the campaign, only starting two Premier League matches and four Europa League games, he has been a regular from the bench and has been one of Moyes’ preferred options from the bench.
The signing of Mohammed Kudus partnered with the electric form of both Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen has made it very hard for Fornals to find his way back into the Irons starting XI, but should any of those players pick up injuries, he will likely return to the fold.
Therefore, West Ham are better off keeping the 27-year-old around until the end of the campaign and then they can cash in at the end of the season with plenty of time to reinvest that money and find a capable replacement.
Having activated the year-long extension in Fornals’ contract, the Irons are under absolutely no pressure to sell.
In other West Ham news, Jamie O’Hara and Dean Saunders have clashed on air over the suggestion the Hammers should sack Moyes