West Ham United fans were fearing a quiet January window despite the serious need for a new striker.
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Hammers boss David Moyes has conceded money is tight again this window (FourFourTwo).
Several reports over the weekend linked West Ham with loan moves this month for the likes of Marko Arnautovic, Mamadou Sakho and Josh King.
But that sparked more confusion over Premier League loan rules.
West Ham linked with host of loan moves
West Ham already have Craig Dawson and Said Benrahma on what are known as season-long loan transfers. That – according to Premier League rules – is the domestic limit at any one time.
That would appear to rule out any move for Sakho or King on a loan basis.
But reliable West Ham insider ExWHUemployee has moved to clarify the rules for foreign loans.
Speaking on his Patreon site, ExWHUemployee said West Ham could potentially add as many as four more players on loan from foreign clubs.
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And Ex pointed to West Ham’s London rivals Fulham as an example of a club using the loan system to its limit.
The Cottagers have Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mario Lemina on loan from Chelsea and Southampton respectively.
But they also have goalkeeper Alphonse Areola on loan from PSG, Ola Aina from Torino, Ademola Lookman from RB Leipzig and Joachim Anderson from Lyon.
That means West Ham could sign another FOUR players on loan if finances dictate.
Links to foreign strikers could bear fruit with four slots open to Moyes
So links to the likes of Marko Arnautovic could materialise should the club pursue it.
“It is possible for us to loan players from abroad,” ExWHUemployee clarified on Patreon.
“There has been some confusion over the two loan rule which does apply to domestic loans and we have reached our quota with Dawson and Benrahma…
“However, when it comes to foreign loan deals we can have more. You just have to look at Fulham who have two domestic loans and four foreign loan deals at the same time. This means a loan deal with a view to a permanent such as what we got with Soucek is likely to be explored.
“David Moyes have been very keen on us bringing back Arnautovic and this could be possible on a loan deal.”