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ExWHUemployee: West Ham United confident of signing Will Salthouse client Maxwel Cornet
West Ham United are confident of beating a host of clubs to the signing of Burnley forward Maxwel Cornet thanks to Will Salthouse being his agent, according to ExWHUemployee.
Writing on his Patreon account on Wednesday night (3 August), the reliable Hammers insider reported that Newcastle United, Leeds United, Everton and Nottingham Forest are also keen on signing the 25-year-old Ivory Coast international.
It is understood that the Irons want to have an offer accepted for Cornet “in the next few days” but due to the former Lyon star’s injury record, the London club could look to pay for a deal in instalments, appearance milestones or as a loan.
Salthouse vital
David Sullivan has strong ties with Salthouse having signed a number of his players over the years.
Michail Antonio, Craig Dawson and Aaron Cresswell are among the Unique Sports Group clients who are already on the books at West Ham.
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There’s no doubt that could play a role in negotiations and at least give the Irons a headstart over their transfer rivals in the hunt to sign Cornet.
Our big issue is how we’re trying to get the deal done.
It’s been widely reported that there’s a £17.5million release clause in Cornet’s contract at Turf Moor but the Hammers do not seem to be willing to meet that having spent so much already this summer.
That’s fair enough but Cornet was a stand-out player for Burnley last season despite their relegation and if he hadn’t spent as much time injured as he did, the Clarets could still be a Premier League club.
Sullivan is going to be key to this deal while it wouldn’t hurt for Antonio, Dawson and Cresswell to drop their agent a word in order to grease the wheels on a move.
But we’d be shocked if the player and if Salthouse weren’t already keen on the move.
It seems to all be down to the clubs.