Manchester United and West Ham United ready for opening day swap deal
Julen Lopetegui is unveiled as the new West Ham United manager on May 21, 2024 in London, England.
What are West Ham United thinking as they just sit and let a staggering Man United deal happen as the transfer window kicks into gear.
Next Monday July 1 will mark the official opening of the summer transfer window for international deals.
But Premier League clubs like West Ham and Manchester United have been able to trade with one another for nearly two weeks now.
And there’s more than one deal that’s been mooted between the Hammers and Man United in recent windows.
West Ham came very close to signing Man United defender Harry Maguire last summer only for the move to collapse over severance pay.
David Moyes confirmed this week that he wanted to sign Red Devils midfielder Scott McTominay too but ‘couldn’t quite get it over the line’.
The Hammers have also been linked with the likes of Anthony Martial and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
And over the weekend West Ham were rocked by sudden reports that Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is plotting a reunion with Edson Alvarez, who he managed at Ajax.
Both West Ham and Manchester United have big rebuilds on their hands this summer.
One area many fans feel West Ham must strengthen is at full-back. Supporters want to see pacy, younger new full-backs on both sides to compete and share the load with Vladimir Coufal and Emerson Palmieri.
With Ben Johnson expected to leave on a free transfer, signing a new right-back becomes a necessity for West Ham.
The Hammers have been heavily linked with a host of right-backs in the last year.
But none more so than a man who has long had an uncertain future at Man United – Wan-Bissaka.
The London-born 26-year-old is regarded as one of the best defensive full-backs in the Premier League.
The former Palace man has a great engine and is a master of one-on-one defending.
Wan-Bissaka has been linked with West Ham in each of the last three transfer windows.
Rather interestingly from West Ham’s perspective, the main club that were previously said to be competing with the Hammers for Wan-Bissaka’s signature – as confirmed previously by Fabrizio Romano – was Wolves – managed by none other than Julen Lopetegui at the time.
Wan-Bissaka is a client of Will Salthouse, who is close with West Ham majority owner David Sullivan and his sons.
Lucas Paqueta of West Ham chests the ball in front of Aaron Wan-Bissaka of Manchester United during the Premier League match between West Ham Unite…
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
What are West Ham thinking as they let Man United deal happen?
Last month it was claimed Wan-Bissaka had already said his goodbyes at Man United and would be sold for a knockdown price as he enters the last year of his contract.
That all seemed to point to West Ham finally getting their man this summer.
But it’s a case of what are West Ham thinking as they just sit and let a Man United deal happen.
According to reports from Turkey, Galatasaray have agreed terms with Wan-Bissaka and are confident doing the same with Man United.
“The Yellow-Reds, who gave priority to the right-back in the transfer, shook hands with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who is number one on the list,” Fanatik reports.
“Negotiations continue with Manchester United for the transfer fee of the 26-year-old football player, for whom an agreement has been reached on everything from the annual fee to all contract details.”
Still hope for Hammers over Aaron Wan-Bissaka
The report states Gala have been in contact with the West Ham target for a while and have reached an agreement on everything from annual wages to contract details.
There is a glimmer of hope for West Ham, though.
It is claimed Man United want £12m for the right-back but that the Turkish giants are trying to get him for £8m.
So the Hammers could trump Galatasaray by paying the full asking price.
One thing West Ham should not be doing it sitting back and letting this go through without throwing their hat in the ring.
Wan-Bissaka would join his former Palace teammate Wilfried Zaha at Gala if he joins.
But ironically West Ham are being linked with a move to bring ex Man United flop Zaha back to London.
Perhaps signing Zaha might convince Wan-Bissaka over a move to the London Stadium too?
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