West Ham United transfer news as AFCON update emerges from London Stadium
West Ham head of recruitment Rob Newman is understood to be scouting for potential transfer targets at the Africa Cup of Nations, according to Mail Plus.
The newspaper reported via their Transfer Confidential on 15 January that, while there is interest in Santiago Gimenez, Jack Clarke and Steven Bergwijn, none of those deals have progressed, with Newman looking elsewhere.
This news comes amid a threat of a triple exit from the London Stadium, with Divin Mubama, Danny Ings and Ben Johnson linked with moves away in January.
Players need to get over the line
West Ham have found themselves caught short by several injury issues at the start of the January transfer window, with the forward positions exposed for their lack of depth despite the quality on show in the first-choice front three.
As a result, January transfer deals have become more important than the Hammers had initially expected, and while deals for the likes of Gimenez, Clarke and Bergwijn are continually mentioned, it feels more unlikely each day that these deals will be done.
The interest from West Ham is clear, they are looking for a new number nine and possibly some wide options, but with Newman at AFCON this month, the focus may be leaning towards ensuring those deals are done in the summer rather than immediately.
In terms of outgoing moves, the club want to retain the services of Mubama, while Ings will not be allowed to leave until replacements are brought in, and with that looking unlikely as things stand he may be set to stay.
In other West Ham news, a legal dispute is now on the cards over the London Stadium.