West Ham agree £15m loan-to-buy deal to solve key issue

News about the transfer of Said Benrahma to Lyon for £15 million is reported by West Ham.

Said Benrahma is expected to sign with Lyon prior to this Thursday’s transfer deadline, but if West Ham is unable to find a replacement in time, Pablo Fornals may not be allowed to return to Spain.

In an agreement valued at approximately £15 million, West Ham has agreed to accept Lyon’s offer to loan Benrahma to them for the balance of the current campaign, with the option to make the move permanent in the summer.

Due to his lack of popularity, the Algerian’s sending-off at Bristol City earlier this month appears to be his last game wearing a Hammers shirt. Real Betis, meantime, has expressed interest in Fornals after West Ham stated they would consider accepting offers for the Spaniard.

Betis, commanded by former Hammers manager Manuel Pellegrini, is anticipated to make a second offer after their first attempt was turned down, but there’s no assurance that West Ham will approve of his departure given the current standstill in the transfers of Jota and Ibrahim Osman.

While negotiations over winger Osman have been underway with Danish club FC Nordsjaelland, efforts to recruit striker Jota on loan from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad are virtually nonexistent due to tax concerns.