West Ham have joined the list of Premier League clubs interested in signing Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha and Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse.
West Ham are preparing for the exit of Declan Rice this summer with the England midfielder having turned down a new contract at the London Stadium.
Rice has expressed a desire to leave at the end of the season in order to play Champions League football and Arsenal have made the 24-year-old their top transfer target. Manchester United and Newcastle have also been linked with Rice, who is valued at around £100m.
David Moyes will look to reinvest those funds into midfield and the Guardian are reporting that the Hammers will target Palhinha and Ward-Prowse. The former has shone since signing for Fulham from Sporting Lisbon last summer and leads the Premier League for tackles won this season.
The 27-year-old’s ball-winning in midfield has attracted admirers from the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’, but Fulham will be reluctant lose the Portugal international after his role in their impressive return to the top flight.
Ward-Prowse is also on the radar of West Ham after Southampton’s relegation. The 28-year-old – who has scored eight goals and provided four assists in the Premier League this season – is expected to leave St Mary’s to keep alive his ambitions of making England’s Euro 2024 squad. Newcastle, Aston Villa and Liverpool have also been linked with the midfielder.
