West Ham United have entered concrete talks with free-agent attacking midfielder Bilel Hassaini, according to Get French Football News.
The online news outlet claim that the Hammers have made the exciting 18-year-old their number one priority this summer after missing out on Paris Saint-Germain attacker Anssumane Fati.
Get French Football News report that West Ham would have to pay a six-figure fee to Hassaini’s former club AS Nancy should they complete the signing of the midfielder, who has been tracked by both Arsenal and Liverpool.
Hassaini was set to join Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the window, but a change in Sporting Director saw the proposed move collapse.
OPINION
You only have to look at the clubs to be linked with Hassaini to understand the raw talent he possesses. Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, and Arsenal are all said hold and have held an interest in the 18-year-old attacking sensation. The young playmaker has great youth international experience having featured over 10 times for both France under-16’s and under 17’s. Despite being out of contract with Nancy, West Ham would still need to pay a six-figure fee, a big fee for a player that has yet to make his senior debut in Ligue 2. Barcelona had also been credited with an interest in the winger by Get French Football News, who can play anywhere across the front-three. Should Mario Husillos be able to pull this deal out of the bag, then it will only highlight how much the Hammers are progressing in their transfer business, showing that they can attract one of Europe’s brightest talents to the London Stadium, even if it is to bolster the club’s academy with the idea to promote him to the senior squad in the coming years.
