The club are close to completing deals for France international Dimitri Payet and Barcelona holding midfielder Alex Song.
Payet is believed to have cost the Hammers around £11 million whilst Song, who spent last season on loan at the club, could sign for free.
After an official statement from Marseille this morning, things became a lot clearer regarding the Payet situation. The French club admitted that West Ham had tabled a fantastic offer for the attacking midfielder and it was something the Ligue 1 club couldn’t compete with. They reluctantly accepted West Ham’s offer and have now resigned themselves to losing their star midfielder.
Payet boarded a flight from Mauritius to Gatwick this morning and the player was seen entering a London hotel this afternoon. It is understood that the Frenchman will undertake his medical tomorrow.
Alex Song posted a picture on Instagram earlier today as speculation mounted over the midfielder’s possible return to the Boleyn. The Telegraph are reporting that the Hammers could snap up the midfielder for free after Barcelona conceded that they would not get the £5 million they were demanding from West Ham.
The Cameroonian will earn around £70,000 per week and is also expected to sign tomorrow, completing a fantastic double swoop for the Hammers.
At last…
West Ham’s pursuit of Dimitri Payet has been long-winded and a lot of West Ham fans were starting to fear the worst when it all went quiet earlier this week. There’ll still be apprehensions as the midfielder is yet to sign on the dotted line but it would take a typically-West Ham disaster for anything to go wrong now.
Although this is frustrating, it looks like Marseille were guilty of holding up the deal as they attempted to keep hold of Payet. The player does still need to complete a medical but if he joins the club, his signing would represent a massive step in the right direction for the club. For many seasons now the Hammers have lacked a consistently creative midfielder and it has lost the team points, especially last season when a clear lack of imagination failed to break stubborn teams down.
Hopefully, a player of Payet’s class will solve that particular problem and West Ham can continue to transform under Slaven Bilic.
A free Song is another fantastic move
The potential signing of Alex Song is another transfer West Ham fans should be excited about. The midfielder was absolutely outstanding in the first half of last season and if he can replicate that form across an entire campaign then the final season at the Boleyn will be one to remember.
Song brings solidarity and composure on the ball as well as European experience. With the potential additions of both players, the club are forming a very strong spine and it looks like West Ham are having another very successful summer window once again.
Are these the right signings for West Ham? Will Alex Song produce consistently next season?
Absolutely over the moon with the signing of payet , but my jury is still out over a fully fit all season long Alux song although he is a quality player with that I have no doubt.