West Ham are reportedly preparing a contract offer for an Arsenal transfer target likened to Brighton star Carlos Baleva, who could leave for as little as £17m.
West Ham make transfer plans amid relegation battle
With six games remaining, West Ham sit in 17th place, two points above the drop zone, as one of the most eventful seasons in recent memory draws to a close.
Two managers, a near-catastrophic collapse in the first half of the season and a near-miraculous recovery under Nuno Espirito Santo have defined the 2025/26 season at the London Stadium.
A 4-0 win over already-relegated Wolves on April 10 dropped Tottenham into the bottom three and gave Nuno’s side a well-deserved two-point cushion, but nothing is settled, with games against Arsenal, Brentford and a crucial final day against Leeds still remaining.
The Opta supercomputer has given West Ham a 39.3% chance of being eliminated, which is significant enough that every result between now and May feels like a genuine six-point score.
The number needed to maintain appears to be around 40 points, with Nuno needing another 8 points from his remaining points.
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It will be a blow for the Hammers.
Next up will be away to Crystal Palace, followed by home to Everton, and things will get quite tense after that.
For a club that spent 29 of their 32 games in the relegation zone at one stage this season, reaching this milestone with their destiny in their own hands is a relative achievement in itself.
What makes the situation strange is that, despite this, planning for next season has already begun.
A permanent deal for loanee Axel DiSasi, who has shown consistent performance since joining in February, is being considered on a permanent basis, subject to his survival.
It is also reported that West Ham are the frontrunners to sign DiSasi on a permanent basis after a solid loan spell, despite competition from Aston Villa and Fulham.
And now, a new name that speaks volumes about ambition has joined the slot.
West Ham prepare to sign Rennes sensation Jaoui Cissé
According to Africa Foot, West Ham are one of the clubs “preparing a transfer offer” for Rennes midfielder Jaoui Cissé, who has been attracting a lot of attention across Europe this season.
Leeds are also making an offer, while Aston Villa, Arsenal and Newcastle are also monitoring his situation.
However, competition from Germany is considerable.
Bayer Leverkusen have also submitted a bid and are reportedly in pole position for the 22-year-old, with Cisse’s camp said to be attracted to him joining Bayer Leverkusen.
The environment is clearly attractive for a player with strong ambitions as he has time left on his contract until 2030, and he is understood to be prioritizing playing time and a project built around young talent.
Cissé is a box-to-box midfielder with the kind of profile coveted by modern clubs across Europe. At 6-foot-2, he is technically sound, physically imposing, and productive in ball recovery.
He scored for France at U21 level at last summer’s European Championships and has dual French and Malian citizenship.
He has appeared in 22 games in all competitions this season, logging nearly 1,000 minutes in Ligue 1, and Africafoot newspaper claim Rennes value him for up to £17m.
He has also been likened by scouts to Brighton star Carlos Baleva and has already been described as a “dominant” midfield player.
Whether West Ham can realistically compete for a player of this profile while battling relegation is a question that will partially answer itself. If West Ham are relegated, it will be very difficult to sign players with European ambitions.
However, rumors that they are working on an offer reflect plans afoot at the club for a scenario in which they look to bounce back, rebuild and move in a different direction than the season they have just endured.
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He has not yet accepted any club offers.
