West Ham in Crystal Palace transfer battle for £10.3m Fernandes replacement | OneFootball

The Hammers are eyeing a player who shone in the Championship last season.

Most of the talk around West Ham has been about departures, but now that one man is out the door, the club can look forward to developments about arrivals.

After endless speculation, Mateus Fernandes has closed out his £85milllion move to Tottenham after completing his medical at the North London club.

That fee represents a serious profit on the initial £38m they paid for the Portugal international from Southampton last summer, and supporters will be hoping those funds can be put into player recruitment.

Now, the Hammers have been linked to a player with Championship experience, although they will face competition from Premier League side Crystal Palace.

West Ham and Crystal Palace eyeing Jordan James

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The Irons already have a strong squad for the Championship, but it is likely that several of their star assets will leave the London Stadium before the end of the transfer window.

With that in mind, the club are going to need to add quality, and central midfield must now be a priority given that Fernandes is leaving for Spurs.

West Ham have been linked with Rennes midfielder Jordan James, who spent last season on loan at Leicester City, but they face competition, according to the French outlet OuestFrance (via West Ham Central).

The publication adds that he is valued at around £10.3million and that discussions could accelerate in the coming days.

Last season, the 22-year-old central-midfielder became one of the second tier's emerging talents, scoring 11 and assisting four times despite the Foxes' dismal campaign.

What would James bring to the London Stadium?

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Anybody who watched the Championship last term will know all about James' talent, but those of a West Ham persuasion will likely be less familiar with his ability.

The Welshman came through the ranks at Birmingham City, making over 100 appearances for the club before sealing a move to Stade Rennais FC in 2024 after a stellar season in the West Midlands.

James spent last season on loan with Leicester and reminded everybody of his ability in the second tier, so it is no wonder clubs such as the Hammers and Palace are keen.

The Welshman is a box-to-box midfielder, and his physicality and high work rate would make him a superb option for any second-tier club.

His most obvious threat is in front of goal, as no Championship defensive midfielder scored more goals than the Wales international's 11 last year.

Beyond that, the 22-year-old is evidently a creative talent, as he ranked in the top five percent of players in his position for chances created and successful crosses.

At 22, the midfielder has plenty of time to develop, and at the price being reported, a move for James feels like a no-brainer.