West Ham United transfers: Said Benrahma open to Lyon move after £15m bid accepted as issues emerge
Said Benrahma is open to leaving West Ham after a £15m deal was agreed with Lyon, but there is a sticking point over agents fees according to Ed Aarons.
Writing on his personal Twitter account (30 January), the Guardian journalist reports that the Algeria international is keen on the move to Ligue 1 after the Hammers accepted a £15m bid.
Reports suggested that the player hadn’t decided on the move yet, however it’s now agents’ fees that are holding the deal up with the French side still hopeful of completing the deal before Thursday’s deadline.
“Told that Said Benrahma is keen on move to Lyon after West Ham accepted £15m offer but still a sticking point over agents’ fees,” he wrote.
“Lyon hopeful of completing the deal.”
Get it done
It’s been clear for most of the January window that Benrahma’s time at the London Stadium was coming to an end, and it was a matter of where he would be going rather than if.
There has been talk about Saudi clubs plus Marseille and Lyon, but it’s Lyon who have made the first serious move and they’ve sent a bid that matches what West Ham want and so it’s been accepted.
After waiting this long for a bid to come in that was worthwhile, it’s now his own team that are seemingly holding the deal up as they look for a bigger payday.
West Ham are relying on this money to be able to bring in a new forward before the deadline passes with Jota and Ibrahim Osman both strongly linked, but if Benrahma doesn’t leave it may be a tough deal to get over the line.
It’s one to watch in the coming days, but Benrahma and West Ham are clearly ready to go their separate ways in the upcoming days.
In other West Ham news, Hammers want to sign Le Havre starlet Etienne Kinkoue in late transfer push.
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