Southampton are demanding £10m as well as Flynn Downes in exchange for right-back Kyle Walker-Peters.
This would value the Saints’ defender at a whopping £25m, given that Downes was expected to move for somewhere in the region of £15m.
The latest revelations would go some way to explaining why both the Walker-Peters and Downes deals have been dragging on over the past two weeks.
Essex-born Downes is a die-hard Hammers fan and has reportedly been encouraged that he may get a crack at first-team football under new head coach Julen Lopetegui. The midfielder thoroughly enjoyed his loan spell at the south coast club last season. He remains a Hammer at heart, and if he forces his way into the West Ham first team, it’s believed that would be his chosen outcome.
Judging by the breaking news reports, it looks as if it will be increasingly difficult for West Ham to complete the transfer of Walker-Peters from the Saints.