West Ham have hatched a genius plan with the Said Benrahma cash in a bid for new target according to a journalist.
Said Benrahma left West Ham for Lyon on loan with an option to buy in the winter window.
There has been much speculation and inaccurate reporting around what’s happening with that deal.
It was previously claimed that Lyon were not going to take up the option to make Benrahma’s move permanent.
That was a concern for West Ham who desperately need every penny they can get to fund a major summer overhaul.
This weekend it has emerged that Lyon are in fact going to take up the option.
There has been laughably inaccurate reporting of the fee involved, ranging from £6m to £16m.
But there should be no confusion over the amount.
Lyon have already confirmed Benrahma financials
Because Lyon confirmed exactly what they would be paying when Benrahma signed from them in the winter window.
“This paid loan, amounting to £5.1 million (approximately €6 million), comes with a purchase option of £12.3 million (approximately €14.4 million) and a 10% interest in the capital gain in the event of a potential future transfer,” Lyon confirmed on their official website when signing the Algerian from West Ham,
So the Hammers will be receiving £12.3m in addition to the original £5.1m loan fee to add to their summer transfer kitty.
And it seems Tim Steidten is cooking up a genius way of getting the most out of that money.
Because West Ham have hatched a genius plan with the Benrahma cash in a bid for a new target.
It has been widely reported that West Ham are pushing to sign two new centre-backs this summer.
West Ham’s genius plan with Benrahma cash in bid for new target
The Hammers only have Konstantinos Mavropanos, Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd.
The latter wants out and West Ham want to sell him too with Atletico Madrid said to be in for the inconsistent Moroccan.
There are doubts over Zouma’s future and availability due to longstanding knee issues which visibly impacted his mobility at times last season.
And in many respects the jury is still out on Mavropanos.
A move for Flamengo centre-back Fabricio Bruno collapsed at the 11th hour. And West Ham are said to be in for Wolves skipper Max Kilman as well as Brazilian Vitao.
Now journalist Alan Nixon claims the Hammers want to sign centre-back Jake O’Brien from – you guessed it – French side Lyon.
Lyon lured O’Brien from Crystal Palace two years ago and he has proved a big hit in Ligue 1.
Nixon claims the Hammers have lined up O’Brien with Aguerd leaving.
And he says the player may find the move difficult to turn down.
Clever Steidten targets Benrahma’s teammate O’Brien
“Lyon’s asking price for O’Brien is £30 million which is too much for Hammers just now but could drop in negotiations,” Nixon said on his Patreon.
“O’Brien has other interest but the chance to move to Hammers and start in the Premier League may be too good to refuse.”
This is a really clever use of the Benrahma situation by West Ham.
Lyon have financial constraints and must tread carefully with spending. So it will undoubtedly appeal to them not to have to physically part with that £12.3m for Benrahma.
West Ham can use that to help negotiate a sensible fee for 23-year-old Irishman O’Brien and roll it into any deal.
That would mean the Hammers may only have to shell out around £8-10m of their budget on O’Brien.
This is where Steidten comes into his own in terms of transfer deals.
It shows a clear strategy and the kind of savvy West Ham have lacked in the transfer market down the years.
You can learn all about O’Brien in the video below.