West Ham are considering a late move to bring Jesse Lingard back to the club on loan from Manchester United.
Lingard joined West Ham on loan a year ago in January 2021, having not played a single league game that season for United.
He played a starring role in David Moyes' side qualifying for Europe - scoring nine and assisting five in just 16 appearances.
The 29-year-old attacking midfielder has not played much for United this season following just 14 appearances.
Newcastle have been interested in a loan but were unable to agree a fee or deal over the wages of the star, who is out of contract this summer.
It has left the door open for a potential return to West Ham after the London club were unable to get Raphinha from Leeds.
Hammers boss Moyes is trying to bring in more attacking talent on deadline day to help his fifth place side, who are also in Europe.
He was hot on Raphinha and willing to pay up to £50million for the star who has so far refused to sign a new deal at Elland Road.
But Leeds officials insist Raphinha is staying with them at least until after the World Cup in the winter when they could cash in next January if his contract is still up in 2024.
West Ham’s new recruitment chief Rob Newman is now pulling up other options for Moyes.
These Lingard and Uruguay forward Darwin Nunez,22, who was a target for Newcastle earlier this month after scoring 18 goals for his Portuguese club.
But Benfica, who are still in the Champions League, will only consider huge bids in excess of £50m.
The move for Nunez has also been complicated by a row among rival agents over the deal behind the scenes.
But West Ham co-owner David Sullivan could fund a huge offer after failing to prise Raphinha from Premier League rivals Leeds.
Raphinha,25, has been a smash hit at Elland Road since joining in October 2020 from Rennes for £17million.
He got six goals last term and has another eight this season, plus two assists.
Raphinha is represented by former Barcelona and Chelsea star Deco, who said last year that Raphinha is ambitious to play at a higher level.
Raphinha recently played for Brazil in a 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with Ecuador with the South Americans top of their qualifying group.
The Hammers were hoping to tempt him with the lure of European football and a bumper contract.
But while Raphinha has been considering his options, he has told pals he is not ready to force a move this month.
It has left put the Hammers' spotlight back on Lingard and Nunez.
Lingard's brother Louie Scott has compared his sibling's situation at Old Trafford to that of a prisoner on social media.
Scott posted on his Instagram account a year to the day after Lingard joined West Ham on loan, with a picture of the United academy product celebrating a goal for the Hammers.
The caption read: 'A year ago today he was 'allowed' out on day release,' followed by three cry-laughing emojis, with 'Now we know what Akon felt like,' written underneath the image.
American-Senegalese artist Akon's lead single from his hit debut album was 'Locked Up', a track containing the lyrics: 'I'm locked up, they won't let me out'.
