West Ham eye Ethan Galbraith as Mateus Fernandes exit destination becomes clearer

West Ham United have reportedly set their sights on a deal for Swansea City midfielder Ethan Galbraith.

Galbraith is a product of Manchester United's academy but never truly made the grade at Old Trafford.

The 25-year-old has spent time bouncing around in the EFL and is currently at Swansea.

He recently rejected a new deal with the Welsh side and is now on the radar of West Ham.

It comes amid a separate update on Mateus Fernandes, whose own West Ham exit appears imminent.

West Ham-linked Ethan Galbraith on way back up

Galbraith left Man United for Leyton Orient in 2023 after making just one senior appearance for the Red Devils, with that coming under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The 11-cap Northern Ireland international, who previously had loan spells with Doncaster Rovers and Salford City, caught the eye for Orient.

Swansea were eager to land the midfielder and did so after numerous attempts last summer.

Galbraith performed well in his first season at the Liberty Stadium, too, and is now wanted elsewhere.

As per a report from Football League World on Tuesday, West Ham have joined Wrexham in the race for Galbraith's signature.

Galbraith rejected a new deal in April, but he still has two years to run on his existing terms.

It seems like after being written off following his exit from Old Trafford, Galbraith has worked his way back up and his trajectory is only going one way.

What is the latest with Mateus Fernandes?

It is no surprise that West Ham are being linked with numerous central midfielders right now.

It goes without saying that Galbraith or anyone else linked of late would be a serious downgrade on Fernandes.

That is the brutal reality West Ham find themselves in, however, following relegation from the Premier League.

Widespread reports on Monday and Tuesday suggest Jose Mourinho has now made Fernandes a top target at Real Madrid.

West Ham fans will simply want as high a fee as possible for the former Southampton man, and ideally as soon as possible so the rebuild can begin.

Galbraith will hardly get the blood pumping, but it is the type of market West Ham are now shopping in.