West Ham eyeing 'cut-price' transfer deal for Leicester City star | OneFootball

West Ham are eyeing up a possible replacement to Jarrod Bowen amid Aston Villa links

West Ham are set for a busy summer ahead as they prepare for life back in the Championship.

The Hammers finished 18th in the Premier League after being unable to overturn the two point gap to Tottenham Hotspur.

West Ham will be targeting a top two finish next season, with their sights set on immediately returning to the top flight at the first opportunity.

Nuno Espírito Santo has been tasked with overseeing their promotion hopes, and he previously led Wolves to the Championship title in 2018.

However, the east London outfit will have to deal with the prospect of losing key talent like Mateus Fernandes, Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen.

The first-team squad could need to be rebuilt depending on the number of star players that leave the London Stadium in the coming weeks and months.

West Ham identify Leicester City star as key target

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It has been reported by the Evening Standard that West Ham are eyeing a move for Abdul Fatawu as a possible replacement to Summerville or Bowen.

The Hammers are believed to be confident that they can secure the forward at a cut-rate price due to Leicester City’s financial issues.

Despite the completion of Bilal El Khannouss’ move to Stuttgart, the Foxes are still in need of further sales in order to balance the books.

The League One side were handed a six-point deduction penalty from the EFL last season due to breaching the profit and sustainability rules (PSR), which contributed to their second successive relegation.

West Ham themselves also need to be wary of the Championship's financial rules, which has fuelled a lot of speculation over the futures of Summerville and Bowen, among others.

But the Irons are hoping that they can exploit the situation at the King Power Stadium in order to get a cut-rate deal for Fatawu.

The Ghana international is currently competing at the World Cup, meaning any decision on his future may have to wait until after his time in North America has concluded.

The 22-year-old contributed nine goals and seven assists for Leicester last season, with the team suffering relegation with a 23rd place finish in the Championship.

Bowen has been linked with a possible move to Everton or Aston Villa, with West Ham reportedly seeking £50 million for the winger.

Meanwhile, Summerville is understood to be a target for Manchester United, with another £50 million price tag attached to his head.

Abdul Fatawu would be a smart option to replace Jarrod Bowen at West Ham

Potentially losing Bowen will obviously be a blow for West Ham, if it comes to pass, but Fatawu could be a natural replacement on the right flank.

He’s proven himself at a Championship level, even if Leicester themselves struggled for results last season.

The forward was also crucial when the Foxes earned promotion in 2024, contributing six goals and 13 assists from 40 appearances, so he knows what it takes to succeed at this level.

And, at 22, he has room to grow and develop into a promising Premier League talent, so if they can sign him for a cut-rate price then that could be a superb piece of business.