West Ham have been locked in on-off negotiations with Manchester United for Aaron Wan-Bissaka and have responded to news emerging from Old Trafford.
West Ham and Manchester United find themselves involved in yet another protracted transfer saga this summer.
Last year it was Harry Maguire, before that Jesse Lingard and now Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
West Ham did not end up signing Maguire or Lingard from Man United. Or Scott McTominay for that matter despite making a bid.
Fans will debate whether that was positive or negative for the Hammers and Red Devils.
But one thing is for certain, West Ham’s need for Manchester United’s Wan-Bissaka is becoming increasingly acute.
Both West Ham and Man United fans are concerned by their defensive frailties in pre-season.
Vladimir Coufal has been a great servant for the Hammers.
And while Wan-Bissaka has rarely let Manchester United down, change is needed in that position at both clubs to fit with the style of play Julen Lopetegui and Erik ten Hag want to implement.
West Ham need Wan-Bissaka’s defensive solidity whereas Man United want a right-back who can contribute more in attack.
West Ham react to news from Man United but urge caution
When talks between the Irons and Man United reached deadlock over Wan-Bissaka, West Ham made a cunning bid for Man United target Noussair Mazraoui of Bayern Munich.
The Moroccan is a far superior player in attack than Wan-Bissaka and Ten Hag managed him at Ajax.
West Ham’s surprise move progressed rapidly. But it turned out to be a bluff from West Ham to force Man United’s hand over Wan-Bissaka.
Daily reports from the usual sports media have claimed a deal between West Ham and Manchester United is edging ever closer in tandem with Mazraoui’s move to Old Trafford.
West Ham were furious when Man United hiked the Wan-Bissaka price after they finally agreed personal terms with the right-back last week.
The plot thickened overnight, though, when it was claimed Man United have flights booked for Mazraoui to come to Manchester for a medical and complete his move by Tuesday.
Hammers News has reached out to the top spokesman inside the club about that development.
West Ham have reacted to the news from Man United about Wan-Bissaka but urge caution.
West Ham’s Wan-Bissaka hopes boosted by Man United latest
The club says that is a positive for the Hammers’ hopes of landing Wan-Bissaka.
But added a caveat.
“It’s good news (about Mazraoui flying in for a medical),” a West Ham spokesman told Hammers News.
“If it’s true.”
West Ham and Man United fans won’t have to wait long to find out.
The reports about Mazraoui flying over in the next 24 hours claimed Ten Hag wants him signed and in the Man United squad for Saturday’s Community Shield clash with Man City.
Things just got interesting in this deal.
With both Manchester United and West Ham now travelling back to the UK from the US, getting some sort of resolution should be made a lot easier.
There had been talk that demands over a severance pay out from Manchester United was holding up the Wan-Bissaka move to West Ham.
That was the issue which ultimately scuppered Maguire’s move last summer.
But Wan-Bissaka’s agent Will Salthouse is close with Hammers majority owner David Sullivan and his sons.
He has been privately pleading with Sullivan to sign his 26-year-old client. So that is not expected to be an issue now personal terms have been agreed in the background.
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