Said set on Ligue 1 switch

Said Benrahma is ready to leave West Ham on the day of the deadline.

A number of sides, both domestically and internationally, expressed interest when clubs were informed that the Algerian international would be out for sale in January.

And with less than 72 hours remaining in the transfer window, Benrahma’s race at West Ham may finally be decided thanks to the revelation that Ligue 1 team Lyon has increased their interest in him with a firm offer that is said to be worth £15 million plus add-ons.

David Ornstein claims that Lyon’s owner, John Textor, is interested in the 28-year-old winger. Textor has been a fan of Benrahma’s since Brentford’s Championship days.

In October 2020, Benrahma relocated to West Ham to take the position of Grady Diangana and Felipe Anderson, who had joined Lazio and West Bromwich Albion, respectively.

West Ham loaned the Bees £5 million up front, and then another £20 million at the end of the 2020–21 season. The agreement contained terms worth an extra £5 million, raising the deal’s possible total value to £30 million.

Benrahma hasn’t consistently reached the heights that many fans had hoped for, but he will always be warmly remembered for being a goal scorer in the historic Conference League Final victory in Prague last June.

* In other transfer rumors, Nottingham Forest is reportedly contemplating a last-minute bid for out-of-favor winger Maxwel Cornet.

Similar to Benrahma, the former Burnley player is free to sign this winter, and it’s rumored that Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo is planning to make a bid for him—most likely on a half-season loan.