West Ham ready to make ‘substantial’ bid for Senegal sensation after holding talks
West Ham are by no means finished in this window as they continue to plot moves behind-the-scenes, with an African sensation now catching the Hammers’ eyes.
Their desperate fight for Premier League survival took another devastating blow when they fell to a 2-1 defeat against fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest at the London Stadium on Tuesday.
Morgan Gibbs-White’s late penalty delivered a cruel late winner which now leaves Nuno Espirito Santo’s side seven points adrift from safety and staring relegation squarely in the face.
The defeat represented their 13th loss in 21 league matches, extending their winless run to 10 consecutive Premier League games for the first time since a dismal 11-match stretch between December 2006 and March 2007.
The gap to safety has widened alarmingly following Tuesday’s collapse, with West Ham now seriously contemplating life in the Championship.
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The east Londoners have responded to their desperate situation by splashing £45 million on attacking reinforcements, despite their glaring need for a new centre-back.
David Sullivan sanctioned the double signing of strikers Pablo Felipe from Gil Vicente and Taty Castellanos from Lazio, with both players making their debuts in the Forest defeat.
Castellanos represents a significant gamble given the fee involved and mixed reactions from Lazio supporters regarding his sale.
The Argentine managed just two goals and three assists in 11 Serie A appearances this season, underwhelming numbers for a player West Ham desperately need to deliver immediately if they are to preserve their Premier League status.
However, West Ham’s recruitment drive shows no signs of slowing despite the mounting pressure on Nuno’s position.
The Portuguese is reportedly pursuing additional reinforcements across multiple positions, determined to provide West Ham’s squad with the quality needed to claw their way out of the relegation zone.
Now, one young midfielder has emerged as a concrete target for West Ham.
West Ham ready to make 'substantial' offer for Alpha Toure
Indeed, the club have made their interest in FC Metz sensation Alpha Toure very clear, according to Wiwsport.
Nuno’s side are said to have expressed their concrete interest in discussions with Toure’s entourage, and West Ham are prepared to put forward a ‘substantial’ offer to convince Metz to sell him.
However, negotiations will be complex and remain far from advanced, despite West Ham’s clear intentions.
Metz are not currently enthusiastic about the idea of separating from their number 12 during a campaign where they are battling to preserve their own Ligue 1 status, creating significant obstacles to any potential January deal.
The 19-year-old remains under contract with Metz until 2028, providing the French club with considerable leverage in negotiations.
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No discussions have been initiated between the two clubs either, with Metz maintaining their position that Toure is an important asset they cannot afford to lose midway through a relegation battle.
Toure came through the renowned Académie Génération Foot before joining Metz, being part of the pathway that has birthed numerous talented players for European football.
The Senegalese midfielder has featured in 17 Ligue 1 matches since the beginning of this season, establishing himself as a regular presence despite his young age and the pressure surrounding Metz’s difficult campaign.
That being said, West Ham desperately need their January signings to deliver immediately if Nuno is to survive in his position and guide the club away from relegation.
The pursuit of young talents like Toure demonstrates ambition beyond just short-term survival, but West Ham must first preserve their Premier League status before focusing on building for the future.
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