While transfers may be the last thing on many West Ham United minds right now, behind the scenes at the London Stadium, attention will simply have to shift towards next season sooner rather than later.
Mateus Fernandes, Crysencio Summerville and Axel Disasi will surely headline a series of high-profile departures. El Hadji Malick Diouf, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Alphonse Areola and Taty Castellanos may also make a beeline for the life rafts, and that is before you even get to the tricky topic of Jarrod Bowen.
The XI which kicks off the 2026/27 Championship campaign, then, is likely to be very different, if not entirely unrecognisable, from the one which ended a disastrous Premier League season with a largely meaningless 3-0 victory over Leeds.
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If reports are to be believed, though, West Ham United’s first signing of the summer could arrive fairly quickly, irrespective of their relegation.
According to African journalist Khadim Diakhate, West Ham are expected to sign Alpha Toure from Metz for around £6 million.
A 20-year-old prospect available for a relatively low fee, Toure is the sort of addition the Hammers support should come to expect as more ambitious, high-profile targets such as Charlie Cresswell slip away.
Alpha Toure among transfers West Ham United could make
Alpha Toure – FC Metz
Hammers News can confirm that highly-respected scout Max Hahn has played a major role in identifying Toure as a prospect worth pursuing. The Senegal youth international is understood to be keen on making the switch regardless of Sunday’s demotion.
Toure spoke about West Ham’s interest a few months ago, flattered by their admiration in him. A versatile left-footer who can play in central midfield or at full-back, Toure is renowned for his confidence in possession and his press-resistant qualities.
He also started 16 Ligue 1 matches for Metz in 2025/26.
With Fernandes surely on his way out the door, Toure may have big shoes to fill if he joins fellow French football imports Mohamadou Kante and Soungoutou Magassa in the English capital.
Pape Moussa Fall – FC Metz
Like Toure, Pape Moussa Fall is another highly-rated Senegalese talent based at the Stade Saint-Symphorien. According to L’Equipe, the 6ft 6ins centre-forward is available for just £5 million. West Ham may therefore have the option to complete an £11 million double-deal for the Metz duo, with TEAMtalk adding that the Londoners are one of the clubs ‘leading’ the chase for Fall’s signature.
The giant frontman scored 12 times out on loan to keep RAAL La Louviere in Belgium’s top flight this season.
While probably not ready to lead the line for a club with promotion ambitions, Fall could be an affordable, exciting addition to a strikeforce likely to start next season without Callum Wilson or Taty Castellanos.
Ismail Badjie – VFL Osnabruck
A 20-year-old attacker from Germany’s third tier, Badjie is a target with Max Hahn’s fingerprints all over him. According to Deich Stube, an offer has already been submitted by the Hammers.
Badjie plundered eight goals from attacking midfield for Osnabruck in 2026/27 and would relish the chance to showcase his talents at a much higher level.
It goes without saying that there is a sizeable gulf in quality between Germany’s third tier and England’s second. Said El Mala, the £50 million-rated talisman of FC Koln, took the Bundesliga by storm after a season in the 3.Liga though, and Badjie would hope to make a similar impression at his new club.
Making the step up is difficult, yes, but not impossible, as El Mala has shown in the Cathedral City.
Ivor Pandur – Hull City
Hull City’s promotion defied expectations and XG in equal measure. How many of the Tigers’ Wembley heroes will be granted the chance to make their mark in the Premier League, though, remains to be seen.
Sunderland – play-off winners in 2025 – moved quickly to replace Anthony Patterson with a new goalkeeper in Robin Roefs shortly after winning at Wembley.
If Hull opt to bring in a new number one of their own 12 months later, West Ham could pounce on Ivor Pandur.
The Croatian was linked with the Hammers before Mads Hermansen joined in 2025. Tuttomercatoweb reported in March that their interest is very much an ongoing concern.
Pandur made the second-most stops [145] of any Championship goalkeeper this season and also saved two out of the five penalties he faced.
Alphonse Areola is expected to leave while Finlay Herrick would benefit from a season on loan in the EFL. Hermansen, then, may need some new competition and it could arrive in the shape of Pandur.
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Taylor Harwood-Bellis – Southampton
The most ambitious – and expensive – name on this list.
West Ham reportedly saw a £12.5 million bid rejected by Southampton in January. With only two years left on his contract at St Mary’s, though, the scandal-hit Saints of ‘spygate’ fame may be convinced to cash in for the right price.
Harwood-Bellis is a fantastic passer of the ball and a massive aerial presence in both boxes, as emphasised by his seven league goals in 2025/26.
Axel Disasi won’t be returning to West Ham, while there are also doubts about Dinos Mavropanos’ future. Rebuilding their backline around the one-time England international Harwood-Bellis would be a big statement of intent, though Southampton would presumably be loathe to let him go to a potential promotion rival.
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