West Ham plotting triple Burnley and Southampton FC transfer raid | OneFootball

The Hammers have already been linked with a number of Saints players.

Burnley stars Josh Brownhill and CJ Egan-Riley, plus Southampton midfielder Shea Charles, have all been linked with West Ham United.

After a heavy summer of spending in 2024, the Hammers aren't looking to take their foot off the gas this time around, although it didn't do much good for them as they finished comfortably in the bottom half of the Premier League last season.

This time, though, they are looking to be a little more conservative. Rather than the £25 million plus add-ons deal that they agreed with Leeds United for Championship Player of the Season Crysencio Summerville, Graham Potter's side are targeting some of the hottest free agents in the second tier, plus one of its standout youngsters.

West Ham eyeing triple Burnley and Southampton raid

Claret duo Brownhill and Egan-Riley, who both played hugely pivotal roles in Burnley achieving 100 points last time out, are out of contract this summer and are yet to agree to fresh terms with the club. West Ham are looking to pounce on this opening and land the pair, according to the Daily Mail.

Brownhill, 29, captained Burnley to promotion success, netting 18 goals from the centre of midfield. He is also being courted by Everton, as per Football Insider, but he has previously indicated that he wants to get his contract situation with the club sorted.

His teammate seems less likely to stay. It has been reported that former Manchester City academy product Egan-Riley, 22, has agreed to join French side RC Strasbourg this summer, leaving West Ham with a very thin chance of getting his signature.

Southampton centre-mid Charles is also on Potter's radar, according to the Daily Mail. He had a very impressive season in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday last time out, starting 43 second division matches for the Owls. The Saints bought him from Man City in a deal worth up to £15 million just two years ago.

West Ham clearly targeting EFL talent

A number of players from St Mary's have already been linked with moving to the London Stadium this summer, including Tyler Dibling, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Aaron Ramsdale and Kyle Walker-Peters. All but one of them - Ramsdale - have played in the EFL in the past couple of seasons, as have the three aforementioned names they are said to be targeting.

It'll be a struggle for Burnley going up and Southampton going down to hold onto their best players given the financial might of the 17 established Premier League sides. They and their players may be forced to succumb to it at some point if the offers get too tempting.