West Ham United to sell Tomas Soucek, James Ward-Prowse amid talks to sign Carlos Soler
Julen Lopetegui is pushing for West Ham to sign Carlos Soler from Paris Saint-Germain but must offload players to get him in, according to The Times.
The paper reported via their website on 19 August that the Irons are ready to dispense with three current midfielders as they look to make space for the Spaniard amid heavy transfer investment this summer.
The club are “open” to letting all three of Tomas Soucek, who started the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on the opening day, last summer’s signing from Southampton James Ward-Prowse, and forgotten man Maxwel Cornet leave before the deadline.
Sky Sports reported on 19 August that the Hammers are now in talks with PSG over a deal to add Soler.
West Ham prepared to offload Maxwel Cornet
The overhaul at the London Stadium is showing no signs of letting up after a disappointing start to the new season where Julen Lopetegui only started two of his new haul in Max Kilman and Guido Rodriguez.
World Cup winner Rodriguez being installed straight into the line-up suggests the former Real Betis man could be a fixture after his free agent arrival, and with Edson Alvarez still to come back from injury it is already an uncertain time for the other options in the middle.
Soucek didn’t cover himself in glory in the loss to Villa and as a player who is synonymous with the David Moyes regime has faced doubts over his long-term prospects ever since the managerial change.
There will surely have to be outgoings to balance the impressive incoming deals secured by Tim Steidten and if Lopetegui particularly wants Spanish international Soler from PSG it would be logical for at least one to come from midfield.
Talks are already being held to shift Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd in the Middle East [TBR Football, 13 August] which would clear a big space on the wage bill but it appears that suitable bids are in short supply currently for any of the exit-linked players.
Cornet may have hoped for a new beginning at the London Stadium after largely being ignored by Moyes for the past two years, but after failing to make the first squad under Lopetegui and seeing Luis Guilherme and Crysencio Summerville arrive this summer his prospects still look dim.
In other West Ham news, another exit-bound senior ace has now been left in “limbo” abroad according to Dharmesh Sheth.
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