West Ham saga has obvious ending as winner emerges in four-club Guido Rodriguez race

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The race to sign World Cup winner Guido Rodriguez appears to be heating up, and that should be music to the ears of West Ham United.

It is no secret that the Hammers ideally need to raise funds if they are to stump up the fees required for their leading midfield targets between now and the start of September.

Southampton want £50 million for Mateus Fernandes, for instance. As Saints CEO Phil Parsons plays down a potential switch to the London Stadium, West Ham United’s opening bid fell £20 million short of Southampton’s demands.

If the capital club are to make another approach, not to mention a bigger bid, getting a couple of underperforming high earners off Graham Potter’s wage bill would help no end.

Hammers News have been informed that Edson Alvarez is not on the verge of leaving, however, despite reports claiming that Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce are closing in on the Mexico captain.

As for Guido Rodriguez, the good news is that there appears to be a handful of clubs across at least three different countries mulling over the Argentina international.

West Ham United flop Guido Rodriguez has interest in Mexico and Saudi Arabia

Hammers News were informed a few days ago that Guido Rodriguez could move to Saudi Arabia to the tune of £6.5 million.

That as-yet unnamed Saudi Pro League suitor is not, though, the only club hoping to rescue the 31-year-old from his London Stadium nightmare.

W Deportes claim that Liga MX duo Tigres and Club America have not thrown in the towel just yet.

Tigres have the money West Ham want, but will struggle to match the wages on offer in the Middle East. As for Club America – for whom Guido Rodriguez made 123 appearances before joining Real Betis in 2020 – the finances involved are not the only stumbling block.

W Deportes explain that, due to the foreign quota imposed on clubs in Mexico’s top flight, Club America would have to move out one of their non-homegrown players to make room for West Ham’s number 24. The Eagles have attempted to find a buyer for Chilean Victor Davila but that has proven easier said than done.

But what of La Liga?

Rodriguez prefers La Liga switch as Tony Cottee demands replacements

Hammers News have been told that Guido Rodriguez would prefer to re-join Real Betis, the club where he played the best football of his career. Rodriguez caught the eye of Barcelona after establishing himself as one of the most effective midfielders in Spanish football, before making that ill-fated switch to London instead last summer.

But after Real Betis pulled the plug on signing Emerson Palmieri – another ageing player free to leave West Ham – the La Liga outfit put Guido Rodriguez on the backburner.

Diario de Sevilla report that Rodriguez is ‘in the pipeline but very much in the background’. He would have to accept a ‘very, very considerable wage cut’ to make a homecoming happen, while Betis appear to be shifting their focus towards Fernando Bernal of Fluminense instead.

Rodriguez allegedly earns £75,000-a-week at the Hammers, per Capology.

So, while he is open to Mexico, while he prefers Real Betis, Saudi Arabia currently appears to be the only destination capable of meeting both West Ham and Guido Rodriguez’s financial needs.

Upton Park icon Tony Cottee watched Sunderland sweep West Ham aside on a dismal Saturday afternoon for Graham Potter’s team, a one-paced midfield of Guido Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse chasing shadows throughout a punishing second-half.

“The biggest problem at West Ham at the moment is there are no legs in midfield,” Cottee told talkSPORT. “Rodriguez, I don’t see what he brings to the table. Ward-Prowse is a good footballer but there’s no athleticism or pace there. No one who can get up and down.

“Of course we miss Declan Rice! Dec would be perfect in there now but he’s gone! They’ve got to try and replace him. They need to get someone who can get about in midfield.

“[Edson] Alvarez, not an athletic player, [Tomas] Soucek not an athletic player. There is no one to come on and give you a bit of variation. West Ham have to go out and get one or two midfield players.”