West Ham United will try again for French midfield star Morgan Sanson in January but face competition from Everton, a new report suggests.
According to French newspaper L’Equipe, Marseille were working on a deal sell Sanson to West Ham in the summer.
Marseille were desperate to sell players in order to meet Financial Fair Play regulations, but missed their own June 30th deadline to offload a big name.
Sanson, 25, was reportedly to joining the Hammers.
West Ham back in for Sanson?
And how West Ham could have done with him. Manuel Pellegrini’s side have looked desperately short in several key areas, including central midfield.
Meanwhile Sanson has been part of a Marseille side that is currently second to PSG in Ligue 1.
West Ham are still monitoring Sanson and could renew their interest in January.
That’s if a new report from La Provence entitled ‘Sanson encore encore’ is to be believed.
The report – also cited by Get French Football News – claims West Ham and two other Premier League clubs – Southampton and Everton – are still ‘closely monitoring’ Sanson.
‘He is the most closely tracked and the most concretely’
La Provence says ‘West Ham notably enquired for the player last summer’ and also credits Manchester United and Tottenham with an interest.
But it is ambitious Everton’s interest that will surely pose the biggest threat to West Ham’s hopes of signing the player.
After appointing big name boss Carlo Ancelotti, Everton will be looking to make a statement in January.
By the sounds of it, Sanson will take some persuading to leave his current situation. But Everton’s project could prove more appealing than West Ham’s right now.
“Currently on holiday with his family in Savoie, he is relaxed,” La Provence reports.
“Last winter, he extended his OM contract by one year until 2022. When this occurred, he also reached a verbal agreement with the Marseille board about departing in the summer of 2020.
Report: Hammers target four new recruits
“That is currently where his head is at. Especially because of the exciting second half of the season that OM are set to have and the fact that he is set to become a father for a second time.”
But Marseille have conceded that Sanson ‘is the most closely tracked and the most concretely’.
Football Insider recently claimed West Ham are in the market for four players in January.
The club is said to be targeting a defender, central midfielder, striker and right-back.
Everton will be after new recruits too. That could result in an auction between the Hammers and Everton. And based on recent transfer activity there would only be one winner.
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