West Ham United will not compete with Aston Villa for the signing of top target Said Benrahma unless they offload Manuel Lanzini or Felipe Anderson.
Ex delivers emphatic verdict on Villa favourite’s West Ham link
David Moyes must sell to buy this summer (Claret & Hugh). Meanwhile Aston Villa boss Dean Smith is said to have £100 million burning a hole in his pocket.
So far Moyes has raised just £7.5million through the sales of Albian Ajeti and Jordan Hugill.
The Hammers boss has watched a number of his reported targets slip through his fingers as a result.
West Ham and Villa linked with Brentford attacker
That includes prime target Eberechi Eze, who joined Crystal Palace instead for a potential bargain £16m.
Brentford’s Said Benrahma was said to be a serious target for West Ham too.
The Bees attacker was always seen as a back-up option for Moyes should he miss out on Eze (ExWHUemployee when speaking on the West Ham Way podcast last month.
And West Ham were said to be keen given he was a client of David Sullivan’s preferred agent Will Salthouse.
Now, though, it seems West Ham could miss out on their plan B as well after Aston Villa entered the running (Birmingham Mail).
Villa have handed Smith £100m to sign four players this summer.
Villa boss has £100m and wants Benrahma
And according to the likes of Birmingham Live, Benrahma is one of them.
West Ham already look set to miss out on right-back target Matty Cash to Villa (Telegraph).
But West Ham won’t be competing with Villa for the skilful star, who had 27 goal involvements last season.
That’s according to reliable West Ham insider ExWHUemployee.
The anonymous Twitter and podcast personality says the Hammers would only get involved if Manuel Lanzini or Felipe Anderson were sold first.
Insider says Hammers won’t compete with Villa unless they sell one of duo
“Not without selling players first I wouldn’t think,” ExWHUemployee said when asked if West Ham would be competing with Villa for Benrahma.
“Lanzini and Anderson are the ones they think have the most value to sell.
“However there has been no takers thus far.”
Not without selling players first I wouldn’t think
— ExWHUemployee (@ExWHUemployee) August 31, 2020
Lanzini and anderson are the ones they think have the most value to sell. However there has been no takers thus far
— ExWHUemployee (@ExWHUemployee) August 31, 2020
That is bad news for West Ham’s hopes of revitalising their attacking options.
But it is good news for Villa as it clears a path for Smith to get a deal done.
Benrahma has been left out of Thomas Frank’s squads for pre-season so far, adding further fuel to the fire that he will be sold.