West Ham United and Southampton are both closing in on a deal that would see Barcelona benchwarmer Junior Firpo move to the Premier League during the summer transfer window, according to Sport.
Ralph Hasenhuttl certainly needs a new left-back more than David Moyes does.
Ryan Bertrand’s impending move to Leicester City means Southampton are about to lose their only natural left-sided full-back on a free transfer.
West Ham, meanwhile, have Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku at their disposal. The England and Congo internationals produced arguably the best form of their claret-and-blue careers as the London giants qualified for the Europa League last term.
So if Firpo wants regular, first-team football after two years twiddling his thumbs on the Camp Nou bench, Southampton may be the most sensible destination.
Will Southampton or West Ham sign the new Lucas Digne?
Sport claims that the Saints have been in talks with Barcelona over the last couple of days and an agreement with the former Real Betis flyer appears to be on the horizon.
The same can be said of West Ham, however, with Ronald Koeman’s side in advanced talks with two Premier League clubs.
Firpo has also received a number of approaches from Italy but cash-strapped Barcelona have no interest in accepting a loan-to-buy bid for the 24-year-old.
They want money and they want it now. If West Ham or Southampton are willing to pay £14 million, Firpo will be sold in an instant.
Attack-minded and technically-gifted, the former Spain U21 ace may be hoping to emulate the impact of another former Barcelona left-back – Lucas Digne – in the Premier League with West Ham supporters giving his potential arrival their seal of approval.
Hammers boss David Moyes is reported to be a big Firpo fan too.
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