West Ham United expected to sign Aaron Wan-Bissaka with Manchester United deal close
West Ham are expected to sign Aaron Wan-Bissaka although personal terms have yet to be agreed, according to Dharmesh Sheth.
The Sky Sports journalist told GiveMeSport (5 August) that the pursuit of the Manchester United defender is both “close” and “moving” but has yet to get over the line despite a belief that it eventually will.
Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg had reported on 1 August that a verbal agreement on terms had been reached, but according to The Sun on 5 August the Irons current can’t afford his wage demands.
Sheth said: “As far as Aaron Wan-Bissaka is concerned, personal terms still need to be agreed with him.
“But as it stands, the deal is not fully agreed, so Manchester United are thinking, until it is, we’ve got to assume he remains a Manchester United player.
“So it’s close, it’s moving. Talks are continuing. We’re still expecting, as it stands, like there’s a cautious optimism that that one will happen.”
Julen Lopetegui wants West Ham competition from Vladimir Coufal
The Wan-Bissaka pursuit is been carried out in stark contrast to the direct progress that has seen Crysencio Summerville and Niclas Fullkrug brought in and free agent Guido Rodriguez now signed as well.
There seems to be a need all round for the right-back’s move to get done when Julen Lopetegui’s final request of the transfer window is a new right-back [The Sun, 5 August].
Wan-Bissaka’s contract has entered its final 12 months at Old Trafford and Erik ten Hag isn’t planning to make him a regular starter, as they are ready to replace him with Bayern Munich’s Noussair Mazraoui [Fabrizio Romano, 29 July].
From the outside it would appear that the Hammers are showing the most willingness of all as it has now emerged they are willing to pay the full £18m asking price despite his expiring deal.
But haggling between Wan-Bissaka and his current club over a potential pay off to leave for reduced wages at the London Stadium appears to be delaying matters.
Logically a solution will be found which sees the different parties to compromise as there appears to be little benefit to an unwanted defender sitting at Old Trafford for the season, but if one side isn’t willing to budge soon it could go right down towards the deadline.
In other West Ham news, the Irons will now have to sell two strikers to complete a long-running pursuit before the deadline.
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