04 Jan 2022 10:45:17
West Ham has nine players out of contract in the summer and a further seven entering their final year. Like most clubs, money remains tight, and they could look to cashing in on primary assets (such as Rice or Bowen) to help raise transfer funds. The club could look to a couple of loans to help out and need to assess the youngsters they already have on the books as the out of contract and aging players will not be around for much longer. There needs to be a plan and that has been lacking for a long time. I would think it remains frustrating for West Ham fans not to have seen the striker position not resolved as we go from window to window.

Players who might depart before next season or have been of interest to other sides:

Alphonse Areola (G) WHU Have an option to buy but the player may resist citing lack of opportunities and may look for a high-profile club. West Ham would like to keep him - will need persuading.
Lukasz Fabianski (G) Out of Contract in the summer and available as a Free Agent.
David Martin (G) Out of Contract in the summer and available as a Free Agent.
Ryan Fredericks (RB) Out of Contract in the summer and available as a Free Agent.
Ben Johnson (RB) Out of Contract in the summer and available as a Free Agent.
Angelo Ogbonna (CB) Out of Contract in the summer and available as a Free Agent.
Declan Rice (DM) Price may block a move but there remains interest from Manhester United and there is interest from Manchester City. West Ham will resist a move, but if the player were to push for it they would have to reconsider that position.
Mark Noble (CM) Out of Contract in the summer and available as a Free Agent. Perhaps he will retire and join the staff.
Jarrod Bowen (RW/LW) I am still not aware of any formal approach to West Ham by Liverpool, but Bowen is a player who would be an ideal replacement for the now departed Shaqiri - and he is HG. Liverpool have a good relationship with his agent and have apparently spoken with him. I don't know if West Ham would be open to selling. Their focus is on other positions. So it makes some sense if West Ham are open to a sale and if the player accepts a bit-part role. Previously Leicester had an approach turned down by West Ham. Spurs want to add competition to Moura but Bowen would want to be a starter so any club signing him would need to convince him of their project.
Andriy Yarmolenko (RW) will be available to be sold in January or will leave as a Free Agent in the summer. Trabzonspor offer an option.

Players where some level of interest has been shown by West Ham United:

Alphonse Areola (G) WHU Have an option to buy but the player may resist citing lack of opportunities and may look for a high-profile club. West Ham would like to keep him - will need persuading.
Emiliano Martinez (G) Aston Villa will resist a sale but Spurs see Martinez as a Lloris replacement and West Ham see him as a Fabianski replacement. Manchester United want to avoid signing a new goalkeeper but could be forced to look to him. If WHU were to make an offer the player would likely look to the role of Areola before deciding. Unlikely as the cost will be significant.
Sam Johnstone (G) Will not be sold in January but Spurs, West Ham and Southampton may look to offers in the summer. Possible.
Nathaniel Phillips (CB) West Ham interest remains. An ideal Ogbonna replacement at a good price - would be a good buy for West Ham. Something can be done.
James Tarkowski (CB) options are Newcastle and Wolves. I suspect the long-term interest of Werst Ham has gone after failing to sort out a transfer previously. One for next summer perhaps.
Niklas Stark (CB/DM) Hertha want a new contract agreed rather than see the player depart as a Free Agent in the summer. They will also promise him the role of full-time captain in the future. There have been enquiries Rubin Kazan and West Ham. Would be great but don't be surprised by an offer from Dortmund - so unlikely.
Duje Caleta-Car (CB) Newcastle and Wolves have approached Marseille about a January transfer. There is sustained interest from West Ham with ex-Marseille scout Georges Santos joining West Ham. The player sees these clubs as a step down and wants Champions League football. Marseille simply want him gone. West Ham have messed around the lady who does the negotiations on behalf Marseille in the past and she sees them as unprofessional, so it will be more difficult to reach any agreement.
Nathan Ake (CB) Time to move on with the player expressing an interest in a return to London - West Ham, Newcastle and Crystal Palace may offer solutions.
Sven Botman (CB) Milan or Newcastle could look to him. Will be available, but not until the summer, and many PL clubs have been scouting Lille including West Ham who were told they would not discuss Botman. Emerging as first choice CB for Newcastle.
Boubacar Kamara (DM/CB) is doing himself no favours by not commiting to a new contract. Bayern Munich are still keen and may well have a pressing need to replace Marc Roca in January. Marseille have been approached by a third party on behalf of Newcastle but they will be seen as a less than attractive option. Milan may just bite and look for a pre-contract but Marseille could look to a January sale with ex scout Georges Santos joining West Ham and recommending the player - but he would probably be a Declan Rice replacement if anything were to happen, so it is unlikely. Interest of Chelsea has shifted elsewhere but Barcelona remain keen on taking Boubacar Kamara and a member of the Marseille staff. The member of Marseille staff says she is still hopeful that agreement can be reached to extend his contract. If there is no decision by the end of December then Marseille accept he will move on - possibly as a Free Agent. Manchester United have spoken with his agent, which would be as a Matic replacement. Manchester City, like Chelsea, have a preferred option now. Roma offer an option. I cannot see West Ham being able to sign him.
Alex Kral (DM) West Ham will likely sign him on a permanent deal.
Guido Rodriguez (DM) The club have said that if someone comes up with his €75M release clause then he can be sold. There is no interest at that price but Arsenal have watched the player but without further departures do not need another DM player. It seems very unlikely the player would want the move after only being in Spain since January 2020, although Real Betis would be open to a sale. A reasonable fee might be €20M-€25M - but that may not be enough for them. If Liverpool are interested, it would not be as a Wijnaldum replacement but more likely a Fabinho replacement - makes no sense. Potentially on the list for West Ham as a Declan Rice replacement. I cannot see a move to West Ham being possible.
Harry Winks (DM/CM) Spurs have told interested sides he is not for sale but if the player were to ask to leave the coach would be supportive of that. Aston Villa moved on from Pape Sarr and made an enquiry about his availability in the summer. If West Ham were to sell Rice they might offer an option - as perhaps Manchester United might as a possible Matic replacement. He would provide an interesting option for Everton. Leicester might also be a possible destination if they were to lose Ndidi, but they have a preferred target in mind. Southampton have declared an interest. Likely to stay under Conte.
Weston McKennie (CM) Fiorentina would like to take the player and Juventus are looking to add a leading CM and need to raise funds and offload, ideally Ramsey and Arthur - but an option would be to sell Weston McKennie to Spurs or Bayern Munich who have both have shown an interest - although it seems to be waning. A representative of Juventus was in London for talks with Chelsea and was asked to meet with West Ham who have declared an interest. I am not so sure the player would be interested. Juventus will keep him if they cannot raise €30M from a sale. Won't move to West Ham.
Aaron Ramsey (CM) agent prompted a WHU enquiry - nothing will happen with West Ham.
Jed Wallace (RW/AM) Rangers have an advantage as they can negotiate his signing as of January when West Ham and Newcastle will need to wait until he leaves Millwall in May. Seems very unlikely.
Jesse Lingard (AM) Needs to move on. Everton, Newcastle and West Ham may offer options. Something can be done with West Ham potentially as early as January but the player may continue to look for different options - they won't arise if he is not playing.
Antonin Barak (AM) West Ham see the player as an option to Jed Wallace and Jesse Lingard. Newcastle has an interest. Will stay in Italy.
Guus Til (AM) Spartak purchased the player from AZ after a significant return in terms of goals. Sadly, he did not settle and the goals dried up. A loan back to the Eredivisie with Feyenoord has been very successful and attracted the attention of a number of clubs. Marcel Brands was very keen on taking the player to Everton to replace Gylfi Sigurdsson but the interest may have left with Brands. Wolves provide an interesting option as it is a position they would like to strengthen. Feyenoord and the player would like a permanent deal but the funds required would likely be too much of a stretch for them. West Ham are another side looking for an AM player, and although they are one of many clubs to have scouted the player, they have preferred options. Ajax have not declared an interest, but they are fearful of losing Naci Unuvar and that could prompt them. The player has made no secret of his desire to move to Germany if he cannot stay at Feyenoord. It will be interesting to see what happens with what is a potentially significant talent. Very unlikely but a potentially significant talent.
Dele Alli (AM) PSG were open to taking him on an initial loan last January - Spurs wanted him to see out the season and had no intention of letting him leave on loan. Spurs have been open to selling since the summer and would now accept a loan with an obligation to buy to ensure he moves on. It is difficult to see any side taking a risk on a straight loan with an obligation to buy - if it were an option then perhaps Aston Villa, West Ham and Newcastle might provide options. Newcastle seem a less likely option. Huge baggage - West Ham should steer clear.
Anwar El Ghazi (RW) Roma interest has gone. As he is available, an option for WHU if they lose Bowen. Makes no sense.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (LW) Torino, Borussia Dortmund and Lokomotiv Moscow have spoken with Rubin Kazan who were not looking to sell in the summer. However, his agent is hawking him around the Premier League clubs with, according to him, West Ham, Southampton and Leeds showing some interest.
Eden Hazard (LW/RW) Real Madrid have problems one way or another with most of their wingers. He will be another that Real Madrid listen to offers for and has been offered to several Premier League sides. West Ham indicated at the right price they would be interested but the player would not be interested. It is difficult to talk of the timings of transfers but Hazard is, like most of the wingers at Real Madrid and Chelsea, potentially available for a transfer. Whilst there is some support from someone senior at Chelsea, others are not keen to pay the €50M asking price for a 30 year old. I think a move unlikely unless the fee drops considerably. May well be offered to Lille as part of another transfer. Has been offered to Newcastle as well.
Keane Lewis-Potter (LW) Hull youngster who has attracted scouts from Leicester and West Ham.
Giovanni Simeone (F) Cagliari need to sell to cover themselves financially and will listen to offers. They had hoped that Atletico would come in with a good offer but that hasn't happened. West Ham have a long-term interest and spoke again with his representative, but he would need to be matched with a Centre Forward due to his size. Sevilla have had an offer rejected but could return. Everton and Leeds have sent scouts to watch him. Player will look for a team playing European football.
Sardar Azmoun (F) Out of contract in the summer and available as a Free Agent. Emerging as an option for Everton to replace either Calvert-Lewin or Richarlison if either were to leave. Prior interest of Leicester, Lazio, PSV, Liverpool and Marseille has gone - but he been playing very well for Zenit and that has also attracted the interest of Lyon, Newcastle, Milan and West Ham. Expect a move to Lyon as a Free Agent this summer.
Gabriel Barbosa (F) Agent has been doing the rounds in England offering the player on a loan with obligation to buy deal to at least Aston Villa, Newcastle and West Ham. West Ham wished to discuss an 18 month loan with an option to buy. Flamengo have no interest in such an idea. Now being offered around mainland Europe - most sides still see the risk as high.
Mohamed Bayo (S) Clement Foot have no interest in selling cheaply although have noted that Brighton, Chelsea and West Ham have had scouts at games watching him. It is difficult to see how a Work Permit would be obtained for England unless paying well over the odds for a player often described as clumsy. Don't rule out a West Ham offer.
Adam Hlozek (S) has been scouted by West Ham, RBL, Milan, Liverpool, Dortmund, Arsenal and others but has a desire to move to West Ham where Soucek, who he shares an agent with, plays. Has made clear that he will want assurances of game time which will likely rule out any interest from Bayern Munich. He is a Plan B for Dortmund if the move for Karim Adeyemi falls through. West Ham should have progressed this in the summer and as time passes other sides will push for him. Something could still be done with West Ham.
Jonathan David (S/AM) Lille, like many French clubs were hit hard by the loss of broadcast revenue and will need to sell some of their more valuable assets even though they do not want to. Jonathan David is valued by Lille at an unrealistic €60M with Real Madrid keen if a deal cannot be reached for Haaland. Another option for Madrid might be to pay a deposit on a transfer for 2023 and leave him at Lille. Real Madrid may try and negotiate Eden Hazard being included in a deal. There is likely to be plenty of interest in him for a summer move if his price comes down a little - West Ham, Inter and Arsenal are three clubs cited having sent scouts to watch him, no doubt there have been many more. It is difficult to see the player being interested in a move to West Ham.
Youssef En-Nesyri (S) West Ham and Manchester United apparently, via a third party, have made an approach to ask about availability and price for the player who has done well this season, but has not set the world alight previously. Will be off the AFCON when it comes around. Makes little sense given Sevilla are not looking to sell and would demand around €50M but there remains the thought both sides could look again. It would be doubtful he would be a starter for Manchester United. Arsenal has also shown interest in the player as a replacement for Lacazette but they need to raise funds to balance the books and could only be a viable option if a significant sale were made or a player used in exchange. Seems unlikely.
Divock Origi (S) The interest of Cercle Brugge has gone due to asking price. Fenerbahce were interested in a loan with an option to buy. Crystal Palace had him on a list of potential Batshuayi and Wickham replacements but moved on. He will be somewhere down the extensive list of strikers West Ham were considering but might be a realistic option as they need to fix two key problems. Wolves offer an option but not at the asking price. Mainz have an interest. Liverpool will keep him if they cannot get the price they want. I think West Ham could do better.
Patrik Schick (S) Bayer Leverkusen do not wish to sell but know the interest of Manchester City, Spurs, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus could see the price rise significantly. Interestingly, whilst all have a declared interest, none have him as their first choice. West Ham and Manchester United have both sent scouts to watch him although seem unlikely destinations.
Folarin Balogun (S) is frustrated at the lack of opportunities at Arsenal and his "agent" is again offering him around with interest from West Ham and Bayer Leverkusen. A loan seems more likely with interest from the Championship and, surprisingly Saint Etienne who want to replace loanee Ignacio Ramirez.
Cyle Larin (S) Brighton are keen with West Ham and Everton enquiring after the availability of the Canadian.

1.) 04 Jan 2022
04 Jan 2022 11:26:55
This has to be the longest post I have ever seen o. "Rumours" absolutely brilliant thanks Ed002

2.) 04 Jan 2022
04 Jan 2022 17:33:36
Thx, Ed002.

Really helpful information.

Hlozek is a real talent: excellent with assists and scores with both feet as well as being a very good header if the ball. He is fast, strong and has great control and fast feet.

We should snap him up.

There is a lot of buzz about Cabral, who plays in Switzerland, but he hasn’t either the football talent or the football brain Hlozek possesses.

3.) 04 Jan 2022
04 Jan 2022 18:58:29
With you on that markro, he ticks all the boxes he's just a bit young but if we wait to long he will go somewhere else and could become a star.

Feel like Moyes will wrongly dig his heels in on this one. I do think he might struggle to lead the line on his own consistently but can play anywhere across the front and could easily play off Antonio.

4.) 04 Jan 2022
04 Jan 2022 18:59:04
Great info. I don’t see the club cashing in on either Bowen or Rice till summer when decisions will need to be made. I don’t see Areola staying unless he gets assurances he is going to get more game time. Like us I can’t see too many clubs willing to let their players go in January so if we can get someone it is likely to be a surplus to requirements like Lingard, or from a league where twenty million is too much to pass up. All the talk in the world won’t force some teams to sell without a replacement or the player being so upset that they are concerned it will upset the team.

5.) 04 Jan 2022
04 Jan 2022 21:21:58
Kral is also out of contract I believe in the summer and not sure what the terms on the loan to buy are? But not seen enough of him. Next season we also have a lot of players finishing contracts Randolph, Creswell, Antonio, Dawson, Coufal, Diop, so some decisions to make this summer for sure.

6.) 06 Jan 2022
06 Jan 2022 21:58:43
Areola would be a good replacement for Fabs.
We must get Johnson to sign a contract.
Purchase of a centre back; Tarkowski or Philips would both be solid options.
We need a forward and a left back. If we were lucky enough to get Digne that would be a great signing. Being a French international alongside Zouma would certainly show progress.

7.) 07 Jan 2022
07 Jan 2022 00:42:08
I've read somewhere ben johnsons contract has an option to extend his current deal. I think they will improve the deal and extend even further but there is no rush at the moment.

Digne is quality but 20m-30m for a 28 year old on high wages might be to rich for our blood. We should be looking at long term replacements for Cresswell, Digne would be a proven fix for maybe the next 3-4 seasons and with Cresswells contact nearing an end we would also need an understudy to Digne.

Long term Ogbonna replacement is needed.

Replacing yarmolemko with a young and hungry winger would be ideal if we don't get lingard.

Obviously we need a striker.