Besiktas in talks to sign West Ham United duo Alphonse Areola and Tomas Soucek | OneFootball

Besiktas are in talks to sign West Ham United goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and midfielder Tomas Soucek, according to French outlet Foot Mercato.

The 16-time Super Lig champions want to strengthen their squad for a title charge and have identified the West Ham duo.

Areola has made 20 appearances for the Hammers this season, but manager Nuno Espirito Santo wants Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky to replace him.

Soucek has played 22 times this term and may be resistant to a mid-season departure.

The Czech international started and finished in the back-to-back Premier League victories against Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland.

Soucek was key to those wins, and Nuno is unlikely to be open to losing him right now.

The 30-year-old and Areola are out of contract in 2027. While extending their deals may not be in West Ham’s plans, the club could opt to wait until the end of the season before agreeing to sell them.

The Hammers cannot afford to lose key players right now, and they will prefer to make more quality signings than sanction sales in the days leading up to the winter transfer deadline.

They are expected to complete a move for Fulham attacker Adama Traore. He is at their training ground today to complete the deal.

West Ham are also eyeing a loan move for Chelsea defender Axel Disasi.

The Hammers are likely to be one of the most active clubs ahead of the transfer deadline, given their desperation to retain their Premier League status at the end of the season.