West Ham hoping to sell Pablo Fornals in January and want trio of signings

  • The Hammers recently activated one-year option in Fornals' contract
  • The Spaniard's deal at London Stadium has 18 months to run
  • West Ham looking for January sale to reinvest in other areas
West Ham are looking to move on Pablo Fornals
West Ham are looking to move on Pablo Fornals / Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images
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West Ham United are hoping to sell Pablo Fornals in the January transfer window, 90min understands, despite recently activating a one-year extension in his contract.

Fornals would have been out of contract at the end of June had West Ham not exercised their one-year option, allowing him to discuss a free transfer with clubs from abroad in January.

The 27-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at West Ham and started just his second Premier League game of the season at Fulham last Sunday, when he was hooked after 45 minutes with the Hammers 3-0 down.

Fornals has started five of West Ham's six Europa League games, helping them qualify for the last 16, but sources have told 90min the Europa Conference League holders are looking to cash in on Fornals in January and are hopeful of earning back some of the £24m transfer fee they paid Villarreal in 2019.

Saudi Pro League clubs were interested in signing Fornals over the summer, though West Ham were unwilling to sell at the time, and 90min understands that the player's preference would be a return to Spain.


West Ham want two full-back signings and striker

David Moyes on the touchline for West Ham's Europa League clash with SC Freiburg
David Moyes wants more defensive options / Crystal Pix/MB Media/GettyImages

In addition to selling Fornals, 90min understands West Ham want to sign two new full-backs in January and also add another striker to the their ranks.

The Hammers have played much of the season with Vladimir Coufal and Emerson at right and left back, and both have enjoyed impressive campaigns to date. But the lack of quality depth has been apparent when the duo have not been available, leaving manager David Moyes and the club's recruitment team scouring for suitable alternatives.

Right-back understudy Ben Johnson is out of contract at the end of the season, with Thilo Kehrer also available for a move, and Aaron Cresswell also appears to be nearing the end of his West Ham career after 10 years of service - he was previously training away from the first team squad after a summer move to Wolves fell through and has played just three Premier League games.

West Ham also want to sign another striker amid continued uncertainty over the future of Michail Antonio. The 33-year-old is of interest to the Saudi Pro League - a move sources indicate he would be interested in making - and has been out of action for the past few weeks because of an injury sustained on international duty.

Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus are both capable of playing in the centre forward role, with both largely preferred to Danny Ings and youngster Divin Mubama when Antonio has been unavailable.


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