West Ham eye ambitious transfer move for £30m Nottingham Forest ace | OneFootball

West Ham are searching for replacements for Mateus Fernandes after his £85m move to Tottenham Hotspur

West Ham are searching for players to bolster their first team squad after suffering relegation from the Premier League, with a promotion bid being eyed by the East Londoners.

The Hammers came 18th in the top flight, finishing two points adrift of Tottenham Hotspur in 17th.

And Spurs have completed the stunning £85 million signing of Mateus Fernandes from their London rivals as a consequence.

It is likely to be a busy summer of incomings and outgoings for the Irons, who will be targeting automatic promotion from the Championship next season.

The London outfit will have until 1 September to complete any transfer deals before the market shuts.

But their first league fixture will come against Burnley on 16 August, and Nuno Espírito Santo will likely want a lot of business done between now and then.

West Ham target Nottingham Forest midfielder

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It has been reported by the Daily Mail that West Ham are targeting a move for James McAtee at Nottingham Forest.

The Hammers are believed to be prepared to test the Premier League side’s resolve, although it is unclear what kind of fee it will take to convince the Reds to cash in.

The midfielder made the switch to the City Ground last summer when Espírito Santo was still in charge, with a deal coming in at a reported £30 million.

And the new head of player recruitment Nils Koppen is now understood to be pushing for the 23-year-old’s signature.

McAtee made just 14 appearances for Nottingham Forest in the league last season, while also featuring 10 times in the Europa League.

He contributed one goal and two assists across the 24 games, but it remains to be seen whether he will be part of Oliver Glasner’s first team plans for the next campaign.

The former Crystal Palace boss’ arrival has reportedly strengthened the club’s desire to keep the midfielder, but West Ham could still potentially tempt them into a sale.

The Austrian has officially been appointed as the club’s new head coach following Vitor Pereira’s sudden departure at the start of the month.

It’s been claimed that McAtee is still well regarded at Nottingham Forest despite his limited minutes in 2025/26.

West Ham are also keen on moves for Gustavo Sa, Martin Adline and Dwight McNeil, as they look to bolster their options for life in the Championship.

The Hammers have yet to complete their first signing of the summer, with the first team squad now back for pre-season.

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James McAtee signing could come at a great expense

It’s clear that McAtee is highly rated by Espírito Santo and the new recruitment chief Koppen, but Forest will surely be seeking at least the £30 million they paid to sign him.

That would make him quite an expensive addition for a team that will be competing in the Championship.

While West Ham should have money to spend, it might not be the best use of their resources to sign the 23-year-old at that kind of figure given how he fared in the Premier League last season.

The Hammers have to be adding players with top flight quality to their side this summer to plan ahead for a return to the division, and it remains to be seen whether McAtee has what it takes to play consistently at that level just yet, which makes a potentially £30 million move for him quite risky.