West Ham United want Amadou Onana but have failed with a second big for the highly-rated Lille midfielder.
The Hammers seem to be focusing on the French market after signing Alphonse Areola and Nayef Aguerd from Paris Saint-Germain and Rennes respectively.
West Ham remain in the hunt for new signings and may now focus on adding another central midfielder.
Flynn Downes has arrived but Mark Noble has retired, Alex Kral’s disappointing loan deal is over and there are questions over Tomas Soucek’s future.
West Ham may still need one more midfield addition and they appear to want one of French football’s rising stars.
West Ham United want Amadou Onana
The Hammers made their move for Lille ace Amadou Onana last week but failed with a £20million offer.
It was suggested that West Ham were considering other options and seemingly backing away from Onana but that isn’t the case.
Sky Sports claim that West Ham have gone back in for Onana, making an improved bid of €30million (£25million) for the midfielder.
Lille’s answer is the same though, as they have rejected West Ham’s bid and don’t want to sell Onana at all.
West Ham are now left with a dilemma; do they push their offer up again, closer to £30million, or give up and look elsewhere?
Onana, 20, has emerged as a quality holding midfielder having joined Lille from Hamburg last summer.
Onana stands at a gigantic 6ft 5in tall and has already picked up one Belgium cap.
West Ham unsurprisingly aren’t alone in the race for Onana, with Arsenal allegedly holding talks with Onana’s representatives earlier this month.
Arsenal are in the market for another midfielder this summer but West Ham’s chase suggests that this won’t be an easy deal to pull off.
Lille are standing firm and unless Arsenal, West Ham or another suitor offers crazy money, it looks like Onana will be staying put.
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