West Ham are in talks to sign Marseille midfielder Morgan Sanson, according to reports in the English media.
The French club are looking to offload a number of players after failing to qualify for the Champions League, and have also offered the 24-year-old to Wolves and Newcastle.
Marseille reportedly value Sanson at €35m (£31m), and it remains to be seen whether the Hammers can negotiate down the price, with discussions being held with the Ligue One side’s sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta.
Fans on Twitter are not optimistic about a deal going ahead:
Going over budget like. pic.twitter.com/1eaLWfPutW
— Dibbs (@Manxspirit66) June 9, 2019
very complete player, but idk if we need him
— Κηδεμόνας???? (@apoyo_ossandon) June 9, 2019
I love West Ham but I really cant see is signing a player of his caliber
— SV (@Steve_V84) June 9, 2019
Isn’t that the Club Payet came from and shuttled off back too??
— Oldhammer (@RogerCaxton) June 10, 2019
Haha I thought we only in for ‘geriatric keepers’ ?
In all seriousness I can’t see it. Although we do need a CM, I can’t see us spending £30m+ on one when we need to spread our already limited budget out across multiple positions. I think a lot of it depends on player sales ??♂️
— Bobby Paul (@BobbyPaul_95) June 10, 2019
No
— Cal?☠️ (@DiangologyV3) June 10, 2019
Marseille having financial problems?
DS and pellegrini need to walk in there with their shopping trolley and just take the players off the shelves. Sanson, payet, kamara and anyone that take their fancy ⚒#COYI #WHUFC
— Boleyn Blood (@BoleynBlood) June 9, 2019
Husillos seems to be accessing a number of high quality targets and then I imagine he will discuss with MP the best one to go for.
I’ve always like Sanson before he went to Marseille.
Lobotka is my number 1 choice atm.
— R. Jones ☆ (@RockyWhu) June 10, 2019
This 30mil budget is going far ?
— I AM CHADBACCA (@IamChadbacca) June 9, 2019
Sanson made 33 appearances in the league for Marseille last season, scoring five goals and providing three assists.
West Ham are definitely looking for a central midfielder this summer following interest in Barcelona’s Andre Gomes and Olympiakos’s Kostas Fortounis.
However, Sanson’s asking price could prove to be a major stumbling block. The Irons may need to lower the price tag by at least £10m for a deal to go ahead.