West Ham are prepared to offer a staggering £5m just to take Arsenal centre-back Rob Holding on loan for the remainder of the season, according to the Sun’s Alan Nixon.
The journalist, who is usually quite reliable when it comes to transfer stories, believes the Hammers are prepared to pay the 24-year-old’s wages, as well as a sizeable loan fee, in order to persuade the Gunners into letting the defender leave.
Newcastle have already seen a loan move collapse for Holding after manager Mikel Arteta decided he wanted to keep the player, but the £5m could prove useful in their attempts to sign other transfer targets. With eight centre-backs on the club’s books as well, West Ham are hopeful that a deal can be struck. Fans on Twitter have mixed feelings about the loan:
Would take him
— Ben (@ben_personal) September 15, 2020
Why would we pay 5m?!
— Alex Hartley (@AlexHartley9) September 15, 2020
He’s so injury Prone
— #GSBOUT AsTrO (@Chess_AsTrO_20) September 15, 2020
Another cheap option……
— Richard Isbell (@travers06) September 15, 2020
I’d take him tbf he was quality the other day
— . (@VintageLanzini) September 15, 2020
I mean arteta isn’t gonna let him leave his already said that
— Harry Peters (@HarryPeters_WHU) September 15, 2020
BETTER BE REAL !!
— Joe Southam (@joesoutham7) September 15, 2020
5m to loan someone ?????
— chico ⚒ Jacko #GSBOUT (@75_chicoIron) September 15, 2020
Grow up, is this real. He is not worth £5m permanently. Please tell me this is a dream.
— Erol Baduna⚒ (@baduna_erol) September 15, 2020
Good deal. Decent player. Obviously being priced out a deal for the Burnley defender so need to do something ASAP. Get it done!
— Hammer n cheeselldo (@steve62040187) September 15, 2020
It is certainly a lot to spend on a loan deal but, after failing in their bid to sign Burnley’s James Tarkowski, the Irons are now scrambling to find manager David Moyes another option, after he asked for the club to sign a centre-back.