'In Talks': West Ham star makes squad to take on QPR hours after transfer negotiations emerge

West Ham look to pick up a much needed win against Championship opposition QPR at the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon as the FA Cup provides some brief respite from the side’s dismal Premier League form.

The R’s arrive in East London with hopes of causing an upset, buoyed by a 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday last weekend. Nuno Espirito Santo is winless in his last 10 and there’s a feeling that another defeat on Sunday could prove fatal for his time at West Ham.

As ever with the club, talk in the build-up to the match remains off the pitch as much as on it. West Ham have already been busy in the January transfer window with Taty Castellanos and Pablo coming through the doors.

West Ham ‘in talks’ with Gremio over midfield exit

There are expected to be outgoings from the London Stadium too - both to make space for more fresh faces this month, and potentially lighten the load on the wage bill should relegation become a reality.

Football Insider reported on Sunday morning that Brazilian outfit ‘Gremio’ are in talks to sign Hammers midfielder Guido Rodriguez. The 31-year-old has never cemented himself in the starting XI since arriving from Real Betis in the summer of 2024.

The Argentine has been handed just 252 minutes of football across all competitions this season and hasn’t featured in any of the last four outings, an unused substitute in those games. Despite the new transfer talk, Rodriguez has been included in the squad to take on QPR in the FA Cup today, named on the bench once again.

Rodriguez is in the final six months of his contract at West Ham and the club are keen to cash in on the player rather than see him walk away as a free agent at the end of the campaign. It’s claimed that Rodriguez is still hopeful of being in the Argentina squad for the World Cup and knows that a January move to find more playing time is a necessity to ensure that.

Football Insider label the ongoing negotiations with Gremio as the ‘perfect chance’ for West Ham to move Rodriguez on this January and generate funds to invest elsewhere in the squad.

Rodriguez reflects on difficult Premier League transition

Reflecting on his transition to the Premier League at the end of last season, Rodriguez had said: “The truth is that it is different to all the leagues I’ve played in before. There is an intensity, every league has its own challenges. There’s not so much possession, there are more transitions. Even when you’re winning, you have to keep attacking and going forward. It’s very technical, but also very physical. You run a lot. You have to be attentive and catch that pace.

“Any team can beat anyone. This year there were a lot of results that sometimes are not what you expect. All teams come out to compete and all teams are very tough. So we have to be ready for that against Ipswich in our final game this weekend.

“I really appreciate the challenge and intensity of the Premier League. I think this season has made me grow a lot as a player, as a person, and I’ve learned so many things.”

In other news, West Ham vs QPR injury news as 7 ruled out and 1 doubt for FA Cup clash.