By Sam Stone

3rd Aug, 2022 | 6:40am

West Ham United are closing in on the signing of Burnley winger Maxwel Cornet

West Ham United are close to agreeing a deal for Burnley’s 25-year-old Ivory Coast international Maxwel Cornet according to The Guardian.

The newspaper revealed on Tuesday 2 August that the Hammers lead the way for Cornet ahead of Everton, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.

Cornet has a £17.5million release clause, although it’s understood the Hammers are trying to negotiate a lower fee with Burnley.

Former BBC journalist Fraser Fletcher has revealed  (via Twitter, 2 August) that Cornet is “extremely attracted” to West Ham, with the prospect of European football putting the Hammers in pole position.

Better and better

This summer just keeps getting better and better for Hammers fans with Cornet being another excellent addition should they get a deal over the line.

Cornet is a versatile option for David Moyes and is a player he should certainly be targeting over Eintracht Frankfurt’s Filip Kostic.

The 25-year-old Burnley man is younger and also proven in the Premier League which makes him a better option than the Serbian winger.

If the Hammers can get a deal over the line, the Ivorian would be able to act as a third striking option for Moyes and could perhaps allow the West Ham boss to focus on other problem areas of his team.

If the Hammers can sign Cornet and central midfielder Amadou Onana from Lille then it would be a near-perfect summer at the London Stadium.

A left-back could still be another option, however, Cornet can fill in there when needed.

Let’s hope the club get this one over the line before West Ham’s Premier League curtain raiser against Manchester City on Sunday.