West Ham are frantically trying to rescue a deal for Said Benrahma after his £30million switch was thrown into doubt over a medical issue.
As reported by our colleagues at Mirror Football, the medical undertaken bythe Algerian winger has thrown up a potential issue that could scupper the deal. Football.London understands there is a willingness on both sides to find a resolution before the 5pm transfer deadline this evening.
West Ham and Brentford had agreed a fee for the winger, who scored 17 times last season as the Bees missed out on promotion by losing in the Championship play-off final to Fulham at Wembley.
Benrahma played twice for Algeria during the international break, most recently as a substitute against Mexico on Tuesday and has his medical in east London on Thursday having returned to the capital.
West Ham’s move for Benrahma has been protracted to say the least. A move was initially thrown into doubt when it emerged there were loyalty payment issues between the Bees and the 25-year-old but West Ham were confident that wouldn’t derail a switch. Eventually, that issue was sorted and the transfer progressed to the medical stage.
With Benrahma’s move in doubt, though still confident from both sides, West Ham may switch their attention back to Bournemouth forward Josh King.
The striker was the subject of a failed £13million bid from David Moyes earlier this month and is believed to have been the manager;’s number one target from the EFL window but has been brought round to the idea of signing Benrahma instead.
King is out of contract at the end of the season and despite wanting £18million for his services, it is thought that a £15million offer may well be enough to get him out of the Vitality Stadium and back to the Premier League.
