- West Ham United are 18th in the Premier League and the face prospect of relegation
- The Hammers have registered interest in Jordan James
- If demoted to the Championship, Mateus Fernandes could lead potential squad firesale
The prospect of relegation means that West Ham United still don’t know which league they will play in next season with three games remaining, thus making any summer transfer market plans difficult to craft.
In any scenario, West Ham will probably have a number of names, but with only one point separating them from safety, which relegation rival Tottenham Hotspur currently occupies, they will continue to hope that their Premier League plans will be implemented.
Nevertheless, a few targets can be seen as attainable despite their relegation struggle, including the latest name in the rumor mill, who faces an uncertain summer.
West Ham registers interest in relegated Jordan James
Jordan James is expected to return to his parent club, Rennes, once his loan agreement with Leicester City expires, and publication West Ham Zone reports that he may face an immediate reroute to England with the Hammers seen as a realistic destination this summer.
Despite being part of the relegated Foxes, the 21-year-old earned the Championship Young Player of the Year title while on loan at Leicester during the EFL regular season just gone.
The Wales international has already bid farewell and confirmed that he will return to Rennes this summer in a social media post on Instagram. “A frustrating season, in which we fell short in so many places. Gutted,” James said on social media.
He added: “I just wanted to come on here to say thank you for all the support this season; from the minute I arrived, I’ve felt nothing but love. An amazing club and fanbase, and I wish you nothing but the best in the future. Thank you, Foxes.”
West Ham Zone also understands that a number of Premier League teams have expressed interest in the Birmingham City academy graduate.
Jordan James intrest likely seals Mateus Fernandes future
Even if West Ham do preserve their top-flight status, the club will still likely face the summer aiming to ward off temptation for their most attractive assets. Breakout star Mateus Fernandes will undoubtedly be at the top of that list, with numerous top European clubs already letting their interest be known.
Fernandes became the Hammers’ third-most expensive transfer last summer after arriving from Southampton for an initial £38 million plus £4 million in add-ons. The 21-year-old has excelled in a dour league campaign in the Irons’ midfield, earning his first Portugal national team cap in March.
Fernandes shares a similar profile to the aforementioned James, with both midfielders displaying a tantalizing technical level that has seen them operate in various midfield roles during their respective seasons.
Of course, James, who contributed to 15 goals in the Championship this season, can play alongside Fernandes, but with evident financial concerns in an uncertain season, it is increasingly likely it will be one or the other.
