West Ham confirm Guido Rodriguez exit as Lucas Paqueta talks continue | OneFootball

Hammers have cashed in on midfielder with contract expiring

West Ham midfielder Guido Rodriguez has completed a permanent transfer to Valencia.

The Argentinian World Cup winner joined the Hammers on a free transfer from Real Betis last season, but has struggled for minutes, making 32 appearances during an 18-month spell at the club.

Rodriguez has featured just five times under Nuno Espirito Santo and returns to Spain in search of game time ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

Nuno admitted after West Ham’s 3-1 over Sunderland that the club remained in the market for new signings before next Monday’s deadline.

“We have one week to go," Nuno told reporters on Saturday. “I still believe that we need to rebalance our squad. We need options in some positions.

“We need to become more competitive. I still believe in the work the club is doing.”

Having already sanctioned the departures of Rodriguez, Niclas Fullkrug and Andy Irving this month, Nuno is also keen to keep trimming his squad.

Lucas Paqueta has been heavily linked with a return to boyhood club Flamengo, and the Irons’ head coach said he hoped the club and the player could find a solution quickly.

“What I hope is the situation to be solved as soon as possible," the West Ham boss added.

“Every part involved has to be solved and to be clear, so we have a direction to move forward.”

Outcast midfielder James Ward-Prowse was named in a matchday squad for the first time under Nuno at the weekend, but the 31-year-old remains up for sale this month and is thought to be attracting interest from Burnley.