West Ham locked in talks over new £55m double deal that will excite and frustrate

The club’s owners have exclusively responded to Hammers News about reports of West Ham moves for Taiwo Awoniyi and Andre Silva.

Now it seems West Ham are in talks about two other big deals.

Angry with the way Tim Steidten and Julen Lopetegui spent £155m in the summer, majority owner David Sullivan has taken back control of the club’s recruitment.

Of course it was always Sullivan and the board who ultimately signed off on deals wanted by Steidten and the previous managers.

But ahead of the winter window Sullivan let it be known he is now controlling business again albeit with ‘input from Steidten and the manager’.

That decision has divided opinion among some West Ham fans.

Heading into the window a spokesman for the owners made it clear the Hammers were close to their PSR limit and needed to raise funds to buy.

That’s why West Ham predominantly been linked with loan deals.

With Steidten marginalised, West Ham are stepping up efforts to bring in new arrivals.

Now two top journalists have shared updates which will excite and frustrate in equal measure.

West Ham locked in talks over new £55m double deal

Because West Ham are locked in talks over a new £55m double deal.

According to The Times’ Gary Jacob, West Ham want to cut their losses on Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme just seven months after signing him from Palmeiras in a deal worth up to £25m.

Jacob claims the Hammers are speaking to a club in Saudi over a deal to recoup their money and raise funds for other targets.

As exclusively revealed by Hammers News earlier this season, Steidten elected to spread his striker budget to sign Niclas Fullkrug and Guilherme.

West Ham’s hierarchy were unsure about bringing an untested 18-year-old over from Brazil for such a big fee.

Steidten insisted, though, and he was told in no uncertain terms that his job would be riding on the success of Guilherme.

Now West Ham are in talks to offload him it would suggest Steidten is very much a dead man walking in east London.

Last week a top club source stated Steidten was ’50 per cent gone’ from West Ham.

This development might push that closer to 100 per cent.

Some fans may be frustrated that the Hammers are willing to give up on Guilherme so soon.

But he has barely had a look in at West Ham and Graham Potter would have been consulted on the club selling him.

Guilherme out, Muniz talks for West Ham claim journalists

It seems the Hammers already have designs for the money they may bring in.

Because Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg says West Ham are now in talks with Fulham over a deal for their 23-year-old striker Rodrigo Muniz.

Steinberh states Potter held talks with the board over recruitment on Wednesday.

Now a move has been made for the Brazilian forward with a loan and £30m obligation deal mooted.

Muniz, who has scored four goals this season, has become frustrated at playing second fiddle to Raul Jimenez at Craven Cottage.

Eagle-eyed West Ham fans think they spotted a hint the Muniz links have legs too.

Lucas Paqueta was seen whispering something to Potter as they greeted his compatriot Muniz after West Ham’s 3-2 win over Fulham.

Meanwhile a Chelsea star is surely on his way to West Ham after an overnight development.

It’s not yet clear whether West Ham will feel the need to move for a new centre-back given the continued injury issues of Jean-Clair Todibo.

But what is clear is that signing a striker is the priority. So much so Guilherme will be sacrificed to help make it happen.

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