West Ham have made a £12 million bid to sign a ‘composer’ and ‘incredible’ from set pieces, with the Hammers also getting a reply to the offer, according to Jacob Steinberg.
It has been a busy week for the Hammers, who confirmed Lucas Paqueta’s £36.5 million departure to Flamengo whilst completing the bargain signing of Adama Traoré from Fulham, as Nuno Espírito Santo reshapes his relegation-threatened squad heading into deadline day.
Flamengo announced on Friday evening they have signed Paqueta on a contract until December 2030, with the Brazilian becoming the most expensive signing in his country’s history.
West Ham reluctantly sanctioned the transfer after the 28-year-old requested permission to return home for personal and family reasons following his clearance from spot-fixing charges last summer.
Paqueta departs after contributing 23 goals and 15 assists across 139 appearances since arriving from Lyon for a club-record £51 million in 2022.
West Ham sensation leaves club to join Tottenham after ‘pushing’ for move
The Hammers starlet is on his way to N17.
Amid this high-profile and long-winded exit, West Ham moved quickly to add another attacking reinforcement, with West Ham completing Traore’s permanent signing from Fulham for an initial £1 million.
The 30-year-old reunites with Nuno having spent three very productive seasons together at Wolves, and the Irons boss was left absolutely delighted after snapping up his former star.
“I know him. I know him very well,” Nuno explained.
“I worked with him for many years and I know him that’s why I said he is unique. There are not many players with his abilities. There are not many players with his speed. And I think he will give us many things that we need.”
Meanwhile, West Ham’s defensive recruitment has faced frustration, with talks for Chelsea defender Axel Disasi seemingly not as advanced as some claimed.
The east Londoners have since turned their attention to Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis as an alternative, but they haven’t had much luck there either.
West Ham get reply after £12 million bid for Taylor Harwood-Bellis
According to The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg, West Ham have seen a £12 million bid for Harwood-Bellis knocked back, with the former Man City gem staying put for now.
The 24-year-old, who has started all 17 of Southampton’s last Championship matches, is a mainstay for Tonda Eckert right now and an undroppable member of their starting eleven.
The Saints, despite sitting 15th in the table, could be outside contenders for the play-offs — sitting eight points behind sixth-placed Derby County — in what is a very tight battle for spots at Wembley later this year.
Southampton definitely won’t be keen on losing Harwood-Bellis mid-season as a result, and it could take a mammoth bid to convince Eckert’s side to part ways.
The jury is out on whether the Englishman would be worth a big-money punt, but Harwood-Bellis is a player who Pep Guardiola has previously held in very high esteem.
“I’m so happy for him because he’s a lovely guy,” said Guardiola about the defender in 2024.
“He’s an incredible threat for Southampton from set pieces and a composer when they have the ball because the manager insists the way they have to play, they have to be close, to move differently.”
West Ham offered ‘skilful’ ex-Man United ace who Wolves are pushing hard to sign
They’ve been contacted about a late-window move.