West Ham on what surprise bumper Flynn Downes sale to Saints means with two deals in sights. West Ham have responded on what the surprise bumper Flynn Downes sale to Saints means with two deals in the club’s sights.
West Ham and Southampton have been locked in talks over three deals of late. Saints have wanted to keep midfielder and boyhood Hammer Flynn Downes after he helped them win promotion back to the Premier League.
But that has not looked as certain as it did during Southampton’s play-off winning celebrations with Downes seemingly enjoying being back at West Ham.
Julen Lopetegui was also reportedly reluctant to let Downes leave without assessing the player and his wishes first.
In a counter deal, separate from the Downes talks, West Ham have been trying to sign Southampton’s versatile full-back Kyle Walker-Peters.
Doubt has been cast over that move too with reports at the weekend that the Saints were asking for a ridiculous amount of money for a player in the last year of their contract.
At the same time Southampton boss Russell Martin has tried to bring back West Ham flop Danny Ings.But the striker has, up to now, refused to leave the Hammers.
Hammers accept £18m Saints bid for Downes
Lines of communication are well established between West Ham and Southampton after the £30m deal for James Ward-Prowse and Downes loan last summer.
Now there has finally been a breakthrough which will have a positive impact on West Ham’s interests elsewhere.
West Ham have responded on what a surprise bumper Downes sale to Saints means with two deals in sights.
According to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, West Ham have accepted an £18m offer from Southampton for Downes.
Downes has been permitted to miss West Ham’s game against Hungarian side Ferencvaros to travel to Southampton for a medical.
“Southampton have agreed a deal for the permanent signing of West Ham United midfielder Flynn Downes,” Sheth said.
“Downes has been given permission to have a medical. He has been with the West Ham squad on their pre-season training camp in Austria. West Ham on what surprise bumper Downes sale means
The deal will represent around £6.5m in profit for West Ham.
And the additional funds – which will go entirely towards the club’s transfer kitty – bode well for Tim Steidten and Lopetegui’s hopes of two other deals – one involving the Saints.
Hammers News reported on Sunday that Saints had announced the signing of right-back Yukinari Sugawara.
That meant a deal for West Ham to sign Walker-Peters looked increasingly likely.
Now the Hammers have boosted their transfer budget with the sale of Downes, it seems almost certain Walker-Peters will be coming the other way in a separate transaction.
If not then West Ham will pursue other options such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Sale makes two deals more likely
But the club’s priority at the moment is to sign a striker. And that’s where the Downes cash could be key too.
At the weekend the club exclusively told Hammers News that West Ham won’t pay Villa’s £35m asking price for forward Jhon Duran.
West Ham feel the asking price is too steep for an unproven forward.
If Villa lower their asking price to a more reasonable amount, though, West Ham now have additional funds to help meet in the middle.
And if the club decide to move on from Duran altogether, it means the money is there to fund a move for Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri.
Speaking to Hammers News about whether the imminent sale of Downes helps with moves to sign a striker and other players, the top spokesman at West Ham said: “A bit yes.”
Before the Downes news broke today, Hammers News revealed Walker-Peters could arrive at West Ham next before a striker.
Fully expect things to heat up for the Hammers on the transfer front now.
