Fresh West Ham United hope of deadline-busting Jack Clarke signing as Brentford transfer update emerges
West Ham United didn’t exactly fly out of the blocks in the January transfer window but after a slow start the Hammers are finally cranking up their business.
The loan signing of Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City finally gives David Moyes some semblance of midfield depth in his side, but now attentions have to turn further up the field at the London Stadium to bolster the Scotsman’s attack.
Moyes has always insisted that the Hammers may have to sell before they can buy this month and so far, they have struggled to move on some of their unwanted players, with the likes of Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals remaining in East London.
However, Benrahama may have finally found an opportunity to end his stay at the London Stadium, with Alan Nixon reporting on Sunday (28 January) that Brentford are keen on re-signing the Algerian winger during the January transfer window.
Thomas Frank’s side are exploring a potential deadline-busting deal to sign the 28-year-old this month after they decided that a move for Sunderland gem Jack Clarke would be too expensive to complete.
This could well mean that Benrahma’s exit will help West Ham two-fold. Not only will his sale help raise some much-needed funds that could be spent adding to the frontline, but it could well take Brentford out of the race for Clarke’s signature.
Reports earlier in the window suggested that the Hammers, Brentford and Crystal Palace were all considering moves for the Championship gem, with Sunderland likely to consider any bids upwards of £20million this month [Evening Standard, 10 January].
Brentford have obviously now decided that such a deal would be too expensive and have instead turned their attention to Benrahma, while Palace have shown little intent to pay the fee that the Black Cats want before the 2 February deadline.
Therefore, West Ham are the last team remaining in the race. If they raise a reasonable fee through the sale of the Algerian, that could be immediately reinvested back into the playing squad to bring Clarke down from the Stadium of Light.
This could be one to watch in the closing days of the transfer window.
In other West Ham news, Simon Jordan has slammed supporters in a new Moyes sack verdict at the London Stadium
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