According to a report from Sky Sports, West Ham have submitted an 18-month loan offer for Benfica ace Gedson Fernandes with an obligation to buy for £33 million, but Chelsea are prepared to pay £22 million more.
The 20-year-old is one of the most highly sought-after talents on the continent. And whichever club wins the race for his signature will have on serious player on their hands.
Sky Sports reported early yesterday that the Hammers were hopeful of getting a deal for the Portuguese youngster over the line.
Now that Chelsea have allegedly blown West Ham out the water financially, however, that hopefulness has surely diminished slightly.
So who is really in the driving seat?
The good news for the Hammers is that the Blues’ reported offer for Fernandes comes with a caveat, according to Sky Sports.
Chelsea allegedly want the 20-year-old on an initial 18-month loan deal with an obligation buy at the end of that period for £55 million.
However, the Blues would only be obliged to pay that fee if Fernandes plays more than 50 per cent of Chelsea’s games during his 18-month loan spell. And because of that, Benfica would prefer to do business with West Ham, according to Sky Sports.
So that seems like great news for the east London outfit.
It is clearly a very complicated situation, however. Perhaps the Hammers will need to up their offer slightly for the talented youngster. Or Chelsea could change the terms of the proposed deal.
Either way, it seems as though we are entering a critical stage of negotiations. If West Ham get their hands on Fernandes, it would be a seriously good coup for the club.
But Chelsea’s reported interest in the Benfica ace is a real worry for all Hammers fans.
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