West Ham United are pushing hard to sign Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles according to reports.
Newcastle have rejected a bid of £20m, rising to £25m from West Ham for captain Jamaal Lascelles, according to Sky Sports.
The report claims Newcastle are refusing to entertain selling their 24-year-old skipper but West Ham are believed to be lining up another bid.
Newcastle have had a quiet transfer window so far, making goalkeeper Martin Dubravka’s move permanent and securing Chelsea’s Kenedy on another season-long loan.
Meanwhile the Hammers have signed France Under 21 captain Issa Diop for a club record fee, goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski for £7 million and secured some excellent free transfers in the shape of Ryan Fredericks and Jack Wilshere.
And West Ham are not done there with the Evening Standard reporting Andriy Yarmolenko and Fabien Balbuena will follow this week for a combined £25 million while the Hammers are also reportedly on the verge of smashing their transfer record with the £40 million signing of Lazio star Felipe Anderson (BBC).
With an influx of players Mexico star Javier Hernandez’s struggles for game time may become even more acute next season.
So West Ham should include Mexico’s all-time leading goalscorer in the bid for Lascelles to try and tempt the Magpies into doing business.
Hernandez is the quality big name goal poacher Newcastle fans so desperately crave and would thrive under Rafa Benitez who – unlike West Ham – would build the team around the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star to get the best of his finishing skills.
West Ham paid just £16 million for Hernandez and he would be worth at least that amount in any deal for the Newcastle skipper.
Hernandez starred for Mexico at the World Cup playing a key role in their run to the last 16 including a famous win over Germany.
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