West Ham could sign dream transfer target for £10m net spend as boost fuels hope of £40m sale

West Ham could be a step closer to landing one of their reported dream targets for this summer after a fresh development. The Hammers are in need of new signings as they look to go from being a bottom half team to one that compete in the top half of the Premier League.

Graham Potter struggled in his first few months in the job, but he is set to get the chance to put his own stamp on his squad this summer. and the Hammers have already snapped up Kyle Walker-Peters and El Hadji Malick Diouf, while Callum Wilson is reportedly inbound from Newcastle United.

More signings are expected, and one reported target is Liverpool star Harvey Elliott, who is likely to be on the lookout for more regular football heading into the new season. Reports have claimed Elliott will be available for £40million with a buy-back clause or £50million without one, and that may require the Hammers to make a sale first.

The most likely departee after Mohammed Kudus, who has already left for Tottenham, is Lucas Paquetá, who was being eyed Manchester City previously. An ongoing FA case over alleged spot-fixing has complicated things in recent times, but The Times now say the attacking midfielder is set to be cleared of charges, and that would mean he avoids a lengthy ban.

West Ham boss Potter said when asked about the report on Saturday: “I don’t know anything. I just know we have to support him. He has been through a long ordeal. He is a big personality in the group.”

If Paquetá is cleared, Manchester City could return with fresh interest, with Graeme Bailey telling The Boot Room: "I am told that Manchester City remain huge admirers of the player and do not rule them out coming back in, although the £80m fee they previously agreed is likely to be more than halved if they do return. There is interest in the Saudi Pro League too, and the expectation, as we have previously revealed, is that Paqueta will now move on."

Selling Paquetá could give West Ham the financial boost they need to get a deal done for Elliott, who is likely to have other admirers this summer. The 23-year-old has shown he can compete at the very top, but he now needs to play week-in, week-out, and he did not get that opportunity in Liverpool’s title-winning team last season. The Reds have strengthened again this summer, and Elliott is a likely departee.

West Ham lose to Red Devils

West Ham lost 2-1 to Manchester United in a pre-season friendly in New Jersey on Saturday night. Speaking after the game, Potter said: “I thought both sets of supporters were really good. We got off to a poor start in terms of just a mistake for the goal, which can happen sometimes and then destabilise you a little bit. But I thought we grew into the game, finished the second part of the first half pretty well.

“And then, again, we didn't start the second half so well, but again, recovered and played some good football as the game went on. Jarrod scored a fantastic goal and the intention of the team was positive. I thought we just made too many bad executions, but that can happen at this stage of the season. So, yes, lots to be positive about, but clearly always things to improve.”

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