West Ham have launched a late hijack on Wolves for a Lucas Paqueta replacement and hold a clear advantage over Nuno Espirito Santo’s old side.
With the window reaching a critical stage and urgency driving decision-making, West Ham’s move signals a willingness to act decisively to beat relegation rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers to what could be a key signing.
The January transfer window slams shut at 7pm on Monday night.
So the next 72 hours will be crucial for the Hammers and Wolves if they are going to bring in any additional help to try and beat the drop.
West Ham have attacked the window, quite literally, by spending £47m on two new strikers within 48 hours of the market officially opening before then adding wingers Keiber Lamadrid and Adama Traore, who Nuno Espirito Santo got the best out of at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
West Ham’s Paqueta sale looks like being bad news for Wolves
The focus at West Ham this week has been on signing a new centre-back amid links to Chelsea outcast Axel Disasi and others.
The Hammers also want a new goalkeeper too with Spurs’ Antonin Kinsky potentially on the way from north to east London.
How will you remember Lucas Paqueta? 🤔
But West Ham’s £36.5m sale of Lucas Paqueta to Flamengo has raised the big question – will the Brazilian be replaced?
The Hammers actually have an astonishing Paqueta return clause, which activates on one condition.
There have been different noises coming from the upper echelons of West Ham and the manager’s office over whether Nuno will get the money to replace Paqueta before the window closes.
Nuno has refused to be scapegoated by the West Ham board over signing a Paqueta replacement after addressing a leak from a club insider.
But now the Portuguese may be about to get one over his old club Wolves by making a late play.
Because West Ham have launched a Wolves hijack for a Paqueta replacement and have a clear advantage.
According to TEAMtalk sources, Wolves were ‘confident’ of finalising a deal to sign longstanding West Ham target Angel Gomes from Marseille.
West Ham launch late Wolves hijack for Gomes
The Molineux outfit have a loan with obligation lined up for Edmonton-born midfield ace Gomes, who has failed to establish himself at Marseille following a free transfer from Lille in the summer.
Marseille want to offload Gomes, who is said to be desperate to win back his England place.
If someone told you they wanted to sign Raheem Sterling on a free, what would you say back? 🤔
Explain why in the comments 👇(I'm going for yes)
Title winner ✅
Experience ✅
But there are some cons….
But just as Wolves were feeling certain of completing a deal, West Ham have reportedly shown interest after being approached by intermediaries following the departure of Paqueta.
Gomes is extremely versatile and can play in both defensive and attacking midfield.
West Ham’s interest in ex Man United academy graduate Gomes pre-dates that of Wolves.
Last January, the Hammers had Gomes at the top of a list of players they wanted to sign on a free transfer in the summer.
The 25-year-old opted to join Marseille instead when his Lille contract expired.
Now, the report claims he wants to come back to England and West Ham are in the mix with a number of clubs.
Wolves were leading the pack until Gomes was offered around to the likes of the Hammers.
And Nuno’s current side have a clear edge over his former club.
Hammers have clear advantage over Wolves for Gomes
Because if West Ham can strike the same deal as Wolves – a loan with obligation to buy based on Premier League survival – then it is clear the Hammers have a far greater chance of pulling it off.
Gomes will be looking for a move that gives him the best chance of being in the Premier League next season.
West Ham have given themselves a much better chance of offering that carrot with back-to-back wins over Spurs and Sunderland.
That has helped narrow the gap on Forest and Leeds to five and six points respectively whereas Wolves are miles off, already all but down on a meagre eight points after 23 games.
So this could well be one to watch for the Hammers going into the last few days of the window.
Especially given the longstanding interest in Gomes and the fact they have the lure of a return to his home city London.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
