The tug of war type ‘battle’ between West Ham United and Everton for the signature of Midfielder Carlos Soler appears to be reaching its conclusion this weekend: Obviously with the transfer window closing at the end of August there is a natural completion date arriving over the horizon very shortly. It does appear though that the player himself has just about made up his mind on his chosen destination.
Yesterday’s news regarding the Everton late interest and attempt to steal the player came after some fairly protracted West Ham dealings with Paris St Germain which have rumbled on for a couple of weeks now. Not quite what we have become used to this summer but a necessary evil when the Hammers have stated their need to move players on before recruiting further.
So, possibly the interest from Everton was one of these ‘engineered’ stories designed to spook the Irons’ Technical Director into activity – maybe The Toffees’ interest is genuine. We are about to find out.
Looking for news on Soler’s situation back in Spain, where the players’ sale is being covered in detail, there was a report last night from AS.com confirming that according to their sources, Carlos Soler was ‘One Step Away’ from joining West Ham:
‘Carlos Soler is very close to being a new West Ham player. According to AS, the English club and PSG are currently finalizing the negotiations, which they hope to close no later than next Monday. The Spanish midfielder is a personal request from Lopetegui to the ‘hammer’ directive, which is studying whether to close the operation with a transfer, the favorite option of PSG that needs to balance accounts as soon as possible, or to do so through a transfer that includes a transfer with a mandatory purchase for 20 million euros next season.
Allowing for the Google translation – the loan with mandatory purchase or straight purchase remains the only point for agreement. Previous reports confirmed that Soler had agreed personal terms so – whilst other sources claim Everton are still in the frame, I’d stick my neck out and hope we will see a positive outcome after the weekend.
These other sources are claiming ‘ the player will give his decision between the two clubs on Monday’ – but if ‘AS’ are to be believed , Soler has already pencilled in a move to East London once the clubs agree.
Begs the question, who is leaving West Ham to accommodate Soler’s expected £100,000 a week plus salary? It is a confusing situation with Edson Alvarez seemingly rushed back early to be upon the bench, along with rumours of a pending sale being rife amongst on-line sources. In truth, I guess we will have to wait and see. Can we hold onto Alvarez and acquire Soler? I hope so…. But….
Alvarez was a Steidten signing for about £30+ million last year – if the alleged Manchester United interest crystallised for twice that much, would it be a good sale if Soler came in as a replacement? I find myself hoping that we have secretly tied up a deal for Tom Soucek or James Ward-Prowse instead. The truth could be far less dramatic – it could be that Alvarez – who has recently been named captain of his national side- is just desperate to prove his fitness ahead of the international break to carry open in his new role of ‘El Capitan’. Lets hope so.
