West Ham’s hopes of strengthening their midfield by signing Carlos Soler from Paris Saint-Germain are likely to depend on whether they can raise funds through sales before the transfer window shuts.
Early talks have been held over a move for Soler, who is valued by PSG at around £20m, but West Ham are keeping a careful watch on their finances after a heavy summer of spending. They have spent more than £100m on eight first-team signings and they are keen to offload fringe players before the transfer window shuts next week.
The club want to lighten their wage bill by shipping out Kurt Zouma, who is out of favour in central defence following the arrivals of Jean-Clair Todibo and Max Kilman. But Zouma has struggled with injury problems since joining West Ham three years ago and a move to Shabab Al-Ahli has collapsed over a failed medical. West Ham are exploring other solutions for the defender, who has interest from several clubs in the Middle East.
The concern for West Ham is that some players who are not in Julen Lopetegui’s plans will be difficult to move out given the lack of movement in a market dominated by concerns over the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules. Individuals who are already on big wages could be prepared to stay put. West Ham are seeking buyers for the Morocco centre-back Nayef Aguerd and the former Burnley winger Maxwel Cornet. They will listen to offers for the veteran strikers Danny Ings and Michail Antonio but both earn a lot.
Emiliano Martínez has said he signed a new contract with Aston Villa until 2029 because he is adamant the club will continue to break new ground.
Villa will compete in the Champions League this season, the club having qualified for Europe’s premier competition for the first time since 1982-83. The 31-year-old goalkeeper, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022 and his second Copa America this summer, is eying more silverware.
“I became the best in the world here and I want to continue developing myself,” Martínez said. “I feel like the club is moving forward every year. I have achieved everything as an international for Argentina in the last few years and I think that we can win a trophy here. That's something that is missing for this club.”
Martínez revealed he could have joined Villarreal, then managed by Unai Emery, when leaving Arsenal in August 2020 but joined Villa. Arsenal, for whom Martínez made 15 league appearances, visit Villa Park in the Premier League on Saturday.
“I would not sign a contract if I was not excited for the season,” Martínez said. “I’m excited to play Arsenal at Villa Park on Saturday.
“I'm someone who started playing when I was a little older so I still feel like a young lad playing. I want to win things, I want to keep clean sheets, I want to be the Golden Glove winner of the Premier League. There are a lot of things I want to achieve.” Ben Fisher
Lopetegui has signed one central midfielder this summer – the Argentina midfielder Guido Rodríguez joined on a free transfer – and he wants to add more quality in the middle. Soler, who has been capped 14 times by Spain, is in his sights.
A workaround for West Ham could be to sign the 27-year-old on an initial loan, with either an obligation or option to buy inserted in the deal. They are aware that Soler is on high wages at PSG. West Ham already have James Ward-Prowse, Tomas Soucek, Edson Álvarez and Lucas Paqueta as options in midfield. Lewis Orford and Freddie Potts are hoping to step up from the academy.
Nottingham Forest have signed Alex Moreno on a season-long loan from Aston Villa. Forest have the option to make the 31-year-old Spanish left-back’s move permanent. Moreno, 31, played 29 times for Villa last season, when they qualified for the Champions League and reached the semi-final of the Conference League.
