West Ham are gearing up for a busy summer of transfers and a first season without their captain Declan Rice.
David Moyes’ side are set to lose the 24-year-old midfielder to Arsenal this summer in a deal that could fetch the Hammers a total £105million if all clauses in Rice’s contract are met.
The club likely won’t waste much time reinvesting some of that money back into the playing squad, with West Ham back in the Europa League next season following their Conference League victory in May.
One player the club has been linked with is Flamengo midfielder Matheus Franca, who has been a target for Premier League rivals Crystal Palace and Newcastle.
The 19-year-old made several eye-catching appearances for the Rio-based side last season, scoring four league goals in 17 appearances before extending his contract until 2028 back in February.
That renewal came after Newcastle United submitted a £13.5million offer for Franca in January, which did not match Flamengo’s valuation and was rejected.
West Ham have recently appointed a new technical director Tim Steidten who is focused on signing new recruits with long-term potential, working closely with Moyes and sporting director Mark Noble
Steidten previously fulfilled a similar role with Bayer 04 Leverkusen in his native Germany, whom he joined from Werder Bremen in June 2019.
“I am extremely proud to be joining West Ham United, at such an exciting time in this Club’s incredible history,” he said. “Building on the club’s recent European success, there is already a fantastic team in place, but also so much ambition – from the Board, the Manager, his staff and the players – to continue succeeding, developing and growing. I cannot wait to play a key part in that. Come on you Irons!”
Joao Felix has fuelled speculation that he could join West Ham this summer by posting a cryptic message on social media. The 23-year-old forward has been heavily linked with a return to the Premier League following his loan at Chelsea.
Felix featured 16 times for the Blues in the English top-flight, directly contributing towards four goals. The Portugal international impressed at times, but he struggled to get his feet under the table at disjointed club.
As exclusively revealed by football.london, neither an option nor obligation to sign Felix permanently was included in his contract at Stamford Bridge. Even if the west Londoners had inserted a clause to buy the forward, Pochettino didn’t want him anyway, according to Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo.
“We’ve been informed that Pochettino does not count with Joao Felix for Chelsea,” said the Spaniard. “He will return here, we’ll see. We have nothing planned.”
football.london understands that Felix loved his time in London and he was eager to stay beyond the expiry of his loan. However, with Christopher Nkunku arriving, Chelsea have decided to not pursue a move for the Portuguese star.
While a return to west London may be off the cards, Felix has teased a switch to east London instead. On Instagram, he reposted a video of himself beginning his pre-season preparations while wearing a 2022/23 West Ham third shirt with Said Benrahma, 22, on the back.
West Ham have reportedly contacted Ajax over a potential move for midfielder Edson Alvarez.
The 25-year-old Mexican international has spent the last four seasons in Amsterdam, racking up 147 appearances for the club and scoring 13 goals while winning two Eredivisie titles.
Last year Alvarez played 44 times in all competitions, featuring in both Champions League group stage matches against Liverpool that ended in defeat.
Last summer the midfielder was the subject of Premier League interest from Chelsea, who saw a £42.8million offer rejected by Ajax who felt there was not enough time left in the window to secure a replacement.
West Ham are yet to make an offer for Alvarez but, according to the Athletic, could land him for a fee of around £35million to 40million – less than half of the fee that the Hammers are due to receive from the sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal.
Alvarez moved to Europe in 2019, signing a five-year deal at the Johan Cruyff Arena from Club America. He extended his contract in 2021, with that deal expiring in 2025.
The midfielder, who can also operate as a centre-back, featured twice for Mexico at the World Cup in Qatar, starting the group stage draw against Poland and the win against Saudi Arabia.
He has 67 appearances for his country, being the youngest player in Mexico’s 2018 World Cup squad and being part of the team that won the CONCACAF Gold Cup a year later.
Fulham have rejected a bid worth up to £45million from West Ham for midfielder Joao Palhinha.
The Hammers are looking to find replacements in midfield for Declan Rice, who officially left the club this week and joined Arsenal for an initial £100million transfer fee.
Palhinha is near the top of West Ham’s list of targets after his excellent debut season in the Premier League with the Whites, who he helped to finish tenth in the table upon their return from the Championship.
The 28-year-old, whose current deal at Craven Cottage doesn’t expire until 2027, made 35 league appearances last season, making more tackles (147) than any other player in the top flight following his move from Sporting last summer.
Fulham want £80million for the Portuguese international if they are to let him go, with the Whites also battling to keep hold of star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic who is attracting interest from Al Hilal in Saudia Arabia.
West Ham have also been looking at Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez, who was close to joining Borussia Dortmund last month and who almost joined Chelsea last summer. The Mexico international is valued at £45million by his club.