West Ham target prolific Rangers and Celtic duo in double transfer swoop

West Ham scouts are working hard in Scotland to keep an eye on rising stars at Rangers and Celtic head of the summer transfer window.

Hammers News reports that two starlets at the Glasgow giants have piqued the interest of the London club with Kyle Macaulay taking up the role as Head of Recruitment to work alongside Graham Potter. Celtic man Daniel Cummings and Rangers star Hamza Igamane are touted as targets by the outlet.

The West Ham website explains Macaulay's background and work with Potter. It reads: "Head of Recruitment Kyle Macaulay has been working with Graham Potter since taking on a role as chief performance analyst at Östersund in 2012.

Graham Potter brings Head of Recruitment to West Ham

"Macaulay was a highly valued member of Potter’s backroom staff as the Swedish club won promotion to the top-flight Allsvenskan in 2015, won the Svenska Cupen in 2017 and reached the latter stages of the 2017/18 UEFA Europa League. The Scotsman joined Potter at Swansea City as a recruitment analyst in 2018, before quickly being promoted to head of recruitment.

"Macaulay subsequently worked with Potter at Brighton & Hove Albion in 2019 and Chelsea in 2022 as head of scouting and is now working with his long-time colleague at a fifth club in West Ham United. Most recently, Macaulay worked as chief analyst at Chelsea.

"Prior to linking up with Potter, Elgin-born Macaulay was a promising young midfield player at Derby County as a teenager, before playing senior football for Aberdeen, Peterhead, Alloa Athletic, Elgin City and Huntly in his home country."

Celtic and Rangers stars wanted by West Ham

Cummings is enjoying a breakthrough season at Celtic, making his debut in the Champions League against Aston Villa, having been prolific in the UEFA Youth League and the Lowland League. The 18-year-old has plundered 19 goals in the Lowland League this term.

Hammers News claim: “Potter and sporting director Mark Noble have made quite the promise to Cummings to seal a deal. Cummings has been persuaded to join West Ham over other clubs – and the option of staying at Celtic – on the promise of being involved in Potter’s first team squad from the off.”

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Igamane has hit form for Rangers this term since joining the club from Moroccan side AS FAR. The same report outlines: “A top London Stadium source has confirmed Igamane is another target being considered in addition to Cummings as Potter and Macauley look to massively reduce the average age and profile of West Ham’s squad.”

Igamane was named the Scottish Premiership Player of the Month for his exploits in January. The striker bagged a hat-trick against Hibernian and was on target against St Johnstone and Aberdeen that month. He now has 13 goals in all competitions this term with nine in the league and four in the Europa League.

In other news, West Ham could be willing to sell a key first team star for £20 million this summer with a return to Brazil touted.