West Ham United are in a race against time to get a deal done ahead of Chelsea, a top spokesman for the owners has confirmed.
- Hammers News exclusive
West Ham and Chelsea have shared many column inches during the winter transfer window.
So it seems apt that the Hammers and Blues meet in the Premier League on deadline day.
It is far from ideal for either club, especially as both West Ham and Chelsea are actively working on deals before the 11pm shut-off.
Further intrigue is added by the fact former Chelsea boss Graham Potter returns to Stamford Bridge in charge of West Ham.
And behind the scenes Kyle Macauley – who West Ham paid Chelsea £1.2m to bring to the London Stadium less than two weeks ago – is working on transfers.
Given Macauley’s very recent switch from west to east London, it’s perhaps no surprise that West Ham and Chelsea are being linked with several mutual targets.
Evan Ferguson and Eli Junior Kroupi being the main two as the hours tick down.
Chelsea tried to hijack West Ham’s move for Brighton striker Ferguson.
West Ham admit deadline day race against time
But after a successful medical yesterday, Ferguson is now set to sign for the Hammers and not the Blues.
Hammers News confirmed that Ferguson won’t be able to face Chelsea on Monday night.
In order to have been available, West Ham would have had to have registered the 20-year-old Irishman by midday on Friday – the last working day before the clash.
Chelsea and Bournemouth have emerged as more likely destinations than West Ham for French starlet Kroupi.
But whoever gets the 18-year-old striker may have to wait until the summer regardless.
Another surprise move on deadline day came to light this morning too.
And now West Ham have admitted they are in a deadline day race against time to get deal done ahead of Chelsea.
It was announced that James Ward-Prowse has had his season-long loan at Forest cancelled.
Ward-Prowse has played just four games for Forest and was left out of their squad for their 7-0 win over Brighton at the weekend.
There was no recall option in the midfielder’s loan – as exclusively confirmed by Hammers News on January 2nd.
Hammers racing to register Ward-Prowse for Chelsea
But the two clubs have agreed to terminate the deal – saving Forest money on Ward-Prowse’s wages and West Ham forfeiting some of the loan fee.
Potter is said to be keen to utilise Ward-Prowse.
Although the sudden deal arrangement suggests West Ham’s plans to sign a new midfielder are now on hold until the summer as a result.
The cancellation of Ward-Prowse’s loan has raised the big question as to whether he would be able to feature in West Ham’s squad for Chelsea.
Now a top spokesman for West Ham’s owners has confirmed the situation.
The senior London Stadium contact has told Hammers News that the club are in a race against time to register the change so that Ward-Prowse can be in the squad.
The bad news is, the Hammers appear resigned to defeat on that front.
“I don’t think he’ll be registered in time,” the West Ham spokesman told Hammers News when asked whether Ward-Prowse could be eligible to face Chelsea.
The game kicks off at 8pm live on Sky Sports and will conclude just one hour before the winter window slams shut.
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