Manchester United have sent a message to Inter Milan and it is fantastic news for West Ham’s hopes of signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The fact West Ham have not signed Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Man United yet has raised concerns it will never happen.
When Wan-Bissaka said his goodbyes at Old Trafford at the end of last season, signing him from Man United looked like a relatively straightforward deal for West Ham.
Wan-Bissaka wants to return to London, West Ham’s new head coach Julen Lopetegui wanted the 26-year-old at Wolves and his agent, Will Salthouse, is close with Hammers majority owner David Sullivan.
Fast forward two months, though, and talks between the Irons and Manchester United have become a protracted saga.
That’s despite claims for the best part of two weeks from all and sundry that a deal is ‘edging closer’.
Inter try to hijack West Ham move for Man United star
There is an all too familiar theme developing when it comes to deals between the Hammers and Red Devils.
Negotiations between the Premier League rivals in the not-too-distant past for the likes of Harry Maguire and Jesse Lingard followed a similar pattern before collapsing.
Then came news yesterday that Inter Milan have entered the running for Wan-Bissaka.
Not only that but the bid from the Italians being a swap deal for Erik ten Hag’s compatriot Denzel Dumfries.
There was even a claim that Wan-Bissaka fancied the move to the Serie A champions.
But what Man United have told Inter Milan is fantastic news for West Ham over Wan-Bissaka.
Man United tell Inter it’s West Ham for Wan-Bissaka
According to a breaking update from journalist Dharmesh Sheth, there is now ‘willingness from all parties’ to get a deal done between West Ham and Man United for Wan-Bissaka.
Better still for the Hammers, Man United have made it clear to Inter they’re not interested in a swap deal for Dumfries.
Because Ten Hag and the Old Trafford chiefs want to sell Wan-Bissaka to West Ham so they can sign Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich as planned.
“West Ham are still pushing to sign Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka,” Sheth said on Sky Sports.
“A lot of the details between the clubs have been agreed but contractual details and terms of his departure with United are still to be finalised.
“There is a willingness from all parties to get a deal done…
“Inter Milan remain keen on Aaron Wan-Bissaka and have explored a deal that would see Denzel Dumfries go to Old Trafford.
“As it stands, Manchester United prefer a sale to West Ham in order to pursue a deal with Bayern Munich for Noussair Mazraoui.”
Steidten played a blinder but £3m severance remains issue
This is where technical director Tim Steidten has been worth his weight in gold for West Ham.
When talks over Wan-Bissaka reached stalemate recently, the German submitted a cheeky bid for Mazraoui to try and force Man United to do the deal for Wan-Bissaka.
Ten Hag worked with the Moroccan at Ajax and is said to feel his superior attacking abilities make him more suited to how he wants Manchester United to play.
By bidding for Mazraoui, Man United know if they were to accept Inter’s swap offer, West Ham could well swoop for the Bayern right-back again.
At the weekend the top spokesman inside the club told Hammers News that West Ham are hoping to ‘crack on’ with the signing of Wan-Bissaka this week.
But the big sticking point remains £3m in severance Wan-Bissaka and Salthouse want to be paid.
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