Deal done and medical underway as Leeds United's relegation rivals get big transfer boost
Leeds United's Premier League relegation rivals West Ham have been splashing the cash this month.
Leeds United’s Premier League relegation rivals West Ham look set to strengthen their attacking ranks with a third January arrival.
The Hammers gained ground on Leeds over the weekend after beating Sunderland 3-1 at home, their second consecutive win following a victory at Tottenham Hotspur beforehand. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side remain in the relegation zone but are now just six points behind the Whites, rather than eight.
Leeds drew 1-1 at Everton on Monday night to maintain a decent level of breathing space but will have a keen eye on their rivals’ transfer business. West Ham have already splashed a combined £45million on forward pair Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos, who signed from Gil Vicente and Lazio respectively.
And now they are set to further improve their attacking ranks with the signing of long-term target Adama Traore from Fulham. The pacey winger had agreed the terms of a move to the London Stadium earlier this month but his move had stalled amid fears it could collapse entirely.
But Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg now reports a deal is done for Traore to reunite with his former Wolves boss Espirito Santo. The 30-year-old is believed to be undergoing medical tests in the capital on Tuesday afternoon ahead of signing a contract until the end of the season.
Reports elsewhere suggest West Ham will pay just £2m for Traore, whose Fulham contract was also due to expire this summer, which is a significant reduction on the £7m price-tag touted earlier this month. The Portuguese forward could be eligible to make his debut against Chelsea on Saturday if everything is confirmed by Friday lunchtime.
Traore has struggled for first-team football at Craven Cottage recently, with only one of his 15 Premier League appearances this season coming from the start. In 274 minutes of top-flight football, the winger has failed to register a single goal or assist while last season he scored just twice in 36 games.
He is set to join Pablo and Castellanos in a new-look Hammers attack that won’t include Lucas Paqueta. The Brazilian is on the verge of a £36m move to Flamengo in his home county, having informed his current club of a desire to leave this month.
Leeds United transfer latest amid West Ham moves
Leeds, meanwhile, never expected to be as busy as West Ham this month and so it has panned out. So far they have welcomed just one first-team signing through the door but it was a good one, with summer target Facundo Buonanotte joining on loan from Brighton after cutting his Chelsea stint short.
The Whites are also in talks with Wolves over a potential move for Jorgen Strand Larsen, having seen an initial bid for the striker knocked back. As of Tuesday morning, they were the only club to have sent an offer for the 25-year-old Norwegian, who reportedly likes the idea of a move to Elland Road.
Farke has also hinted Leeds could look at left-back cover following Jack Harrison’s loan move to Italian outfit Fiorentina. With Gabriel Gudmundsson out injured, James Justin moved across to the left wing-back role at Everton with Sam Byram the only defender on the substitute’s bench.