Whether you believe West Ham United actually need another left-back – with Aaron Cresswell, Arthur Masuaku and Ben Johnson all capable of playing on the flanks – reports linking Junior Firpo with the Premier League’s surprise packages just won’t go away.
And, as May rolled into June, Firpo wasted little time in returning to his regular place in the gossip columns.
According to Sport last week, West Ham are in talks over a deal that would see the former Spain U21 international join the London Stadium for a cool £14 million.
What’s more, cash-strapped Barca would rather sell Firpo to a Premier League club than let him join a Serie A side – most likely AC Milan – on a loan-to-buy deal.
West Ham – Firpo a long-time target
The Kings of Catalonia are more like paupers these days, in desperate need of cash wherever they can find it. Firpo, at 24 and with his reputation largely undiminished despite two years on the Barca bench, is one of their most sellable assets.
Southampton were also rumoured to be in discussions for a man who shot to fame at Real Betis thanks to his searing pace and swashbuckling style.
But with Saints pressing ahead with their pursuit of another left-back, West Ham’s task might become a little easier.
It’s no secret Southampton want a replacement for the departing Ryan Bertrand.
According to L’Equipe, however, it is Brest flyer Romain Perraud who will end up on the South Coast, with a potential £10.5 million deal edging closer to completion.
With Southampton out of the way, those ‘Firpo to West Ham’ rumours could finally become reality before long.
How Moyes fits him into a side already blessed with a number of talented left-backs, however, is another matter entirely…
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