By Joe Ellis

3rd Aug, 2022 | 9:10am

West Ham United to abandon Filip Kostic chase over 'rising costs', attention changed

West Ham United are going to ditch their desire to sign Eintracht Frankfurt winger Filip Kostic due to “rising costs”, according to the Daily Mail.

The 29-year-old has cited Juventus as his first choice and has therefore left the Hammers on the hook as he tries to push through a move to Turin and David Moyes is now sick of waiting.

Instead, attentions now turn to Ivorian Maxwel Cornet who was relegated from the Premier League with Burnley last season and has a release clause of £17.5million.

Fulham and Everton have already had loan bids turned away for the 25-year-old while Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United have also failed to strike a deal with the Clarets.

Cornet could be brought in as left-back cover with Arthur Masuaku having just left the London Stadium to join Besiktas in a loan-to-buy deal.

Double bubble

West Ham now have the chance to kill two birds with one stone if they can manage to get Cornet through the door at Rush Green.

Moyes is wanting to sign a new winger and a player who can cover at left-back with Aaron Cresswell set to be the first choice at the back and Cornet, along with Kostic, could be the perfect antidote.

The Ivorian has previously played as a full-back at his former clubs although he was strictly utilised as an attacker at Turf Moor during their relegated campaign.

Kostic too was a wing-back last season for Eintracht Frankfurt but Cornet offers a much younger alternative that can provide a very good attacking option as well as someone who can fill in further back if the requirement comes.

Masuaku’s exit was long overdue after years of being the backup to Cresswell but his presence was necessary and now Moyes needs to find his new man that can allow him to relax in the knowledge that the cover is there.