West Ham United transfer news as Manchester City ‘open’ to Cole Palmer sale, clauses wanted – Fabrizio Romano
Manchester City are open to allowing Cole Palmer to join West Ham United but as with all their young stars, they would want certain clauses included, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Italian transfer guru, speaking to GiveMeSport (17 August) shares that it won’t be an easy negotiation because Manchester City will want buyback and sell-on clauses included in any deal as they do for all their academy sales.
It appears that a Manchester City exit could still be on the cards as Guardiola has confirmed the 21-year-old may be sold, while a loan switch is out of the question, but according to Romano, that may depend on their attempts for West Ham star Lucas Paqueta.
Romano told GiveMeSport: “Manchester City are open to letting Cole Palmer go to West Ham. But, as always for their talents, they want a buyback clause and a sell-on clause, so it’s not that easy to structure the deal.
“I think it will be decided this week because it will become clear if Manchester City go for Paqueta and close the deal or they will move onto different targets as, with West Ham, it is not going to be an easy negotiation.”
Certainly won’t be easy
Manchester City still have plenty of business to do of their own this summer, following the departure of Riyad Mahrez and long-term injury absence of Kevin de Bruyne which means they may be incredibly reluctant to allow Palmer to depart.
And after news emerged that their move for Lucas Paqueta is now off, it’s unlikely to see Pep Guardiola sanction Palmer’s exit as he could certainly fulfil both roles which have been left open by latest developments at the Etihad.
Palmer, lauded “special” by Guardiola represents a promising and exciting proposition for the Hammers this summer, but it remains to be seen whether they will be willing to allow him to leave the Etihad this summer, given his standing as one of the club’s most prestigious young stars.
It may be plausible for the Hammers to seek out more attainable attacking targets with David Moyes also desperately looking to bolster his attacking weaponry and the two clubs are in a battle for Rennes forward Jeremy Doku.
It’s pleasing to see West Ham United battle the likes of Manchester City for some of Europe’s hottest attacking talents and whichever way that potential Doku deal goes, the Hammers have certainly made their intentions and ambitions known.
In other West Ham news, a potential Chelsea hijack is on the cards in the Hammers’ pursuit of one leading European attacking midfield player.