West Ham make Abdul Fatawu move as Leicester City transfer valuation becomes clearer | OneFootball

West Ham are keen to bolster their forward options after suffering relegation to the Championship

West Ham are facing a busy summer of preparation ahead of their return to the Championship.

The Hammers suffered relegation with an 18th place finish in the Premier League, and will be competing in the second tier for the first time since 2012.

Nuno Espírito Santo will be aiming to guide the London outfit to promotion at the first attempt, having previously achieved that feat with Wolves in 2018.

However, a number of first team stars could depart the club before the 1 September transfer window deadline, including Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville.

There will likely be plenty of transfer activity at the London Stadium between now and then, with incomings also expected.

With players expected back for pre-season imminently, the club’s activity is likely to pick up over the next couple of weeks.

West Ham make approach for Leicester City star

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It has been reported by Football Insider that Leicester City’s stance on Abdul Fatawu’s future has softened amid an approach from West Ham, and it's believed that a figure closer to £20 million could be enough for the Hammers to secure his signature.

The winger was originally valued closer to £30 million, but the Foxes relegation to League One, and their recent financial issues, have heightened the need for a major player sale this summer.

A number of clubs have been linked with a move for Bowen, who occupies the same wing as Fatawu.

The 29-year-old has interest from the likes of Aston Villa and Everton, and the Leicester star could be lined up as his replacement.

How West Ham fans feel about Abdul Fatawu price tag

West Ham fans are mixed on the possibility of signing Fatawu from Leicester, with some expressing concerns over a £20 million deal.

However, other supporters are keen to see the winger join the club in what could be a boost for their promotion hopes.

Meanwhile, others believe that Fatawu’s possible arrival is a clear signal that Bowen will be leaving the London Stadium this summer.

Some fans have also used the interest in the Ghana international to suggest that players shouldn’t be looking to jump ship with relegation, as could be the case with a number of West Ham players this summer.

Abdul Fatawu deal would be smart business from West Ham

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It shouldn’t be too surprising that the likes of Bowen and Summerville could leave this summer, as it’s a natural consequence of going down.

But the opportunity to bring in Fatawu could be the silver lining in losing these key players, as the winger is still only 22, and already has bags of experience in the Championship and Premier League.

He contributed nine goals and seven assists in a struggling side last year, and should be able to make the step up to a promotion challenger like West Ham.

For a fee of around £20 million, this has the potential to be a very smart piece of business for the club.