West Ham: Madrid midfielder linked; Payet u-turn; Hammers win race for striker

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Shocking reports emerging from the club’s Upton Park offices seem to be suggesting that West Ham could be plotting a £67 million bid for Real Madrid star James Rodriguez according to Spanish newspaper Marca. The Colombian’s future has been uncertain for much of the past season, and it now seems that a move to the Premier League is likely after failing to live up to expectations.

James Rodriguez undoubtedly has the quality to shine in the Premier League, but West Ham will face stiff competition in the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea, and his wages are unlikely to come cheap. This deal could be the proof that West Ham are a club capable of taking the step up to the next level, but it could also prove that they still aren’t capable of competing with the big boys.

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The move may even be a replacement for Hammer’s favourite Dimitri Payet, whose agent backtracked on the player’s claims earlier this week that he would definitely be staying at the club over the summer, according to the Daily Mail. His agent, Jacques-Olivier Auguste, when asked about the interview Payet allegedly gave to the Sun, claimed “he never said that”.

This will only fuel speculation that the free kick expert could be set for a move away, with Chelsea and Real Madrid set to be leading the chasing pack. Any such move would be a massive blow for the club before their Olympic Stadium move, but may explain why there are rumours of a move for James Rodriguez. With the club said to have put a £100 million price tag on Payet’s head, he won’t come cheap, but that’s unlikely to put off some potential suitors.

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Any such bid for Rodriguez would become a record signing for the club, overtaking the double signing of Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez, the latter of whom had been linked with a return to London. Latest reports suggest that the Corinthians bound striker did in fact receive an offer to return to his first European club, but turned down their offer of £150,000 a week according to the Sun. Whilst he has the quality, at 32 that is a big wage for a striker who spent last season in South America, and he will instead rejoin Corinthians in Brazil where he previously won the Brazilian Championship over 10 years ago.

There is good news in Slaven Bilic’s striker hunt though, with the Express claiming that the Hammers are set to beat Tottenham to the signing of Argentinean youngster Jonathan Calleri. The 22 year old has been on loan at Brazilian club São Paulo from his Uruguayan parent club since January, scoring 9 goals in 12 games.

The pacey striker would be an exciting addition to the Hammers squad and would offer something different to their existing options. At such a young age and with so much potential, it seems likely that there is a profit to be made, and West Ham will do very well to sign him if rumours of interest from Tottenham and Juventus are to be believed.

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Two players continue to be linked with the exit door to make way for these many incomings, with Enner Valencia now linked with a move to Swansea, and Diafra Sakho reportedly refusing to go on tour with the club as he tries to force a move. The Daily Star claim that Swansea are ready to rival Lazio with a £10 million bid for Valencia, as his destination seems increasingly likely to be away from the Olympic Stadium by August.

The Diafra Sakho saga continues after the player reportedly demanded a move, which Slaven Bilic turned down. Relations between the two were said to remain good, but Sky Sports now claim that Sakho has refused to travel to the club’s US tour in order to force through a move. It’s believed that Sunderland, West Brom, Sevilla and Hamburg are tracking the situation.

Bilic may be reluctant to let the forward go, but with Sakho so keen to force a move through, it seems that the club will have no choice than to let him go, though any move seems unlikely until the club have secured at least one of their striking targets.

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