West Ham have a huge problem which has become the elephant in the room at the club but Man United may provide the solution.
Lines of communication are already established between West Ham and Manchester United.
The Hammers paid Man United £15m for Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the summer after protracted negotiations.
Many Red Devils fans have questioned the wisdom of that sale, even if Noussair Mazraoui has been a revelation.
Wan-Bissaka has been a superb addition for West Ham.
He wasn’t the only Manchester United player the Hammers have tried to sign in recent windows either.
Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire were top targets with the latter coming close on two occasions to leaving Old Trafford for the London Stadium.
When Man United were blocked by UEFA from signing Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice due to INEOS’s involvement in both clubs, West Ham pounced.
After five starts for the Hammers, Todibo has triggered a £32m permanent move.
It’s part of a significant £155m summer splurge in east London.
West Ham must get back on the phone to Man United
Despite the big spend, West Ham have failed to properly address two key areas – up front and in midfield.
The Hammers signed striker Niclas Fullkrug from Dortmund.
Supporters felt the club needed to bring in a young, pacy, dynamic forward and were excited by a move for Jhon Duran.
The wisdom of signing a 31-year-old with a lack of pace and lengthy history of serious injuries was questioned by the Hammers faithful.
Sure enough the German spent three months out injured and reportedly already wants to leave West Ham.
Danny Ings and Michail Antonio are both set to be out of contract at the end of the season.
Antonio was then involved in that horrific car crash last weekend which has ruled him out far beyond that – possibly ending his career.
It leaves West Ham will a major issue that now needs to be addressed urgently.
Man United transfer list star for shock price
The east Londoners simply must sign a new striker in January.
That’s where the Red Devils might come in.
Because Man United have transfer listed a star for a shock price and West Ham would be mad not to bid.
A couple of seasons ago West Ham were one of a clutch of clubs reportedly interested in signing Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford.
According to the likes of 90 Min at the time, Rashford was considering his future at Man United after failing to hold down a regular spot in the starting line-up.
That had reportedly alerted West Ham, who had been trying to find and sign a striker for well over a year without success.
Nothing much has changed for Rashford or the Hammers since.
West Ham would be mad not to bid for Rashford
And now Manchester United have reportedly transfer listed the out of sorts forward for a knockdown fee of just £40m.
That’s the same amount West Ham paid Wolves for Max Kilman.
The Daily Mail reckon Manchester United want the affordable fee but ‘accept there are unlikely to be any bidders for the forward in January’.
The report states Man United need to sell to raise funds for PSR.
It is claimed the 27-year-old’s asking price would have been as much as £100m when he scored 30 goals in Erik ten Hag’s first season at Man United.
But Rashford’s form has fallen off a cliff and the contract he signed last year worth a prohibitive £325,000-a-week means that his value has more than halved.
As a result, INEOS are not anticipating any offers for Rashford who is already out of favour under former Hammers target Ruben Amorim.
Yes Rashford has had his much-publicised issues. But on his day, when fit confident and feeling loved, he is a world beater.
Hammers move could reignite Rashford’s career like Lingard
This has Jesse Lingard written all over it for West Ham.
West Ham took Rashford’s good friend on loan for six months and it proved to be the best of the player’s career.
The Hammers are looking to bring in a forward on loan.
So they have to throw their hat in the ring for Rashford.
If the club can somehow negotiate a loan – potentially with an option or obligation to buy – whereby they pick up a major chunk of Rashford’s wages then this could be a perfect solution for all parties.
Like Lingard, Rashford could reignite his career away from the Old Trafford goldfish bowl.
Even if he doesn’t end up signing permanently for the east Londoners, a short-team deal solves a problem for West Ham and could help restore Rashford’s reputation and valuation.
If West Ham were interested before they need to be right in the mix again.
It’s too good an opportunity to miss.
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