West Ham United transfer news: Pablo Fornals set for permanent exit as club to sell Everton-linked ace to fund move – Sky Sports
Real Betis are now working on a permanent deal to sign Pablo Fornals from West Ham before the transfer deadline, according to Dharmesh Sheth.
The Sky Sports journalist reported on 29 January, via their transfer live-blog (12.13pm update) that the Spanish club were no longer looking at a loan deal and were instead gearing up to fund a purchase by selling one of their current attacking players.
The Seville-based side are now “likely” to buy the Hammers man with money brought in from the sale of Brazilian winger Luiz Henrique to Botafogo.
Fornals, 27, has made 203 West Ham appearances since his arrival from Villarreal for £24million in 2019 [Sky Sports] but the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta have pushed him down the pecking order.
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The Irons triggered a one-year contract extension on the Spaniard ahead of the January window in order to boost his transfer value [Claret & Hugh, 5 December], and it looks like they are in line to get the sale they are looking for.
Betis reportedly want €20m [£17m] for Henrique after rejecting a loan approach from Everton [ABC Sevilla, 24 January], so if that money is to be turned around and sent to the London Stadium it would be a pretty decent return.
The Kalvin Phillips loan deal hasn’t come cheap, whether it can or will be made permanent in the future or not, and further attacking recruits will cost.
A push for Ibrahim Osman has fallen apart in strange circumstances but a move for former Celtic star Jota from the Saudi Pro League could be set to take its place.
Moving on players whose role at West Ham is only likely to decrease further is therefore going to be necessary, and a solid fee for Fornals would help balance spending.
He has been a fan-favourite in his time with the club but his future looks to be elsewhere so getting this deal across the line off the back of Betis selling Henrique in the next couple of days will no doubt be a priority.
In other West Ham news, a forward has agreed to join the cub and is now on standby to jet in for a medical before the deadline.
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