West Ham have reached an agreement in principle with Metz star Alfa Toure, according to a report from Dsports.
The London club look set to sign one of French football’s brightest young midfield prospects ahead of the summer transfer window and appear to have snatched a march in continental competition.
Download the official CaughtOffSide app to get all the latest news and updates straight to your phone. above apple & Google play
West Ham sign contract with AlphaToure
According to Dsports, the Hammers have made concrete progress in negotiations and have reached an “agreement in principle” with Toure for next season.
The Premier League side are reportedly willing to pay a fee of nearly £6 million to persuade FC Metz to part ways with the highly-rated youngster.
Talks between the two clubs are moving quickly in the right direction, giving West Ham a huge advantage in a field of suitors.
Belgian giants RSC Anderlecht have been keeping a close eye on the midfielder in recent weeks, and barring some late-game twist, the Hammers are expected to finalize a deal by next week.
Who is Alpha Thule? West Ham new players
At just 20 years old, Toure has quickly become one of the most promising defensive midfield players of his generation.
The Senegalese talent was developed at the prestigious Generation Foot Academy, which has produced stars such as Sadio Mane and Ismaila Sarr, before moving to FC Metz.
Toure has made a spectacular breakthrough in France, establishing himself as an essential cog in Metz’s midfield.
Throughout the season, he played in 29 games in Ligue 1, recording one assist, and was praised for his continued improvement on the big stage.
Highly intelligent in his defensive recovery work and with a natural ability to move play forward quickly, Toure has the physical and technical attributes needed to excel in English football.
His arrival marks another major milestone for Senegal’s young players as they move into Europe’s elite leagues, while also being a key part of West Ham’s summer business as they look to rebuild their engine room.
