Aston Villa have pounced to try and beat West Ham to the deadline day double signing of Duje Caleta Car and Leander Dendoncker.
West Ham and Aston Villa have reportedly been in a battle to sign defender Jan Bednarek from Southampton (Football Insider).
By all accounts the Hammers look set to win that particular race.
Well now it seems Villa have turned their attentions to two other players reportedly being targeted by David Moyes before the window closes.
Because Aston Villa have pounced to try and beat West Ham to the deadline day double signing of Duje Caleta Car and Leander Dendoncker.
Sky Sports reporter Tom White broke the news that the Wolves and Belgium midfielder Dendoncker is a target for West Ham live on air at 9:08am this morning.
Dendoncker’s versatility – he can play defensive midfield and at centre-back – would make him a clever addition for West Ham and he was wanted by Moyes during the Scot’s first spell at the London Stadium.
But Aston Villa have other ideas and have launched a £13m move to beat West Ham to the 27-year-old, which has been accepted by Wolves (The Athletic).
Meanwhile West Ham were also being linked – yet again – with a move for Marseille and Croatia defender Duje Caleta Car.
The centre-back has been linked with West Ham in every transfer window for the last three years.
Now reports claim Aston Villa, West Ham and Southampton are all trying to sign him on deadline day (Daily Mail).
It seems the Saints have the edge but talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook says he would not be surprised to see Villa push to win the race for Caleta Car after the injury to Diego Carlos.
It remains to be seen whether Villa get the deals over the line given the interest from West Ham and – in Caleta Car’s case – Southampton too.
When it comes to Dendoncker, West Ham have the potential advantage of already being in open dialogue with Wolves over their attempts to sign Craig Dawson.
But the Belgian would clearly have more chances of game time at Villa than West Ham where Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and record signing Lucas Paqueta will be three of the first names on Moyes’ teamsheet.
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