Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that agent Will Salthouse could play a key role as West Ham United look to sign Maxwel Cornet – but they may only want to loan the Frenchman.
With the Hammers’ pursuit of Filip Kostic looking likely to end in a transfer snub from the Eintracht Frankfurt man, it looks as though the Premier League club have set their sights on the Burnley winger instead.
Indeed, reports that Cornet could be an option explored by West Ham this summer now look to be gathering some momentum. In a recent update on The West Ham Way Patreon page, Ex has stated that talks have actually been going on for a while now and that the player’s agent could be key to the deal. However, the insider did also outline a potential issue with the deal due to the player’s injury history.
He explained: “We believe talks have been going on for a while now as the number-one alternative to Kostic, as his reluctance to join (something else we broke) has meant alternatives are being explored, although Kostic is not completely ruled out yet.
“The club do not wish to pay the £17.5m release clause for a player who has had a lot of injuries and so a loan move and a lower fee has been discussed, although this is a risky move when other clubs are interested. His agent Will Salthouse could be key here.”
Who would you prefer West Ham to sign?
Maxwel Cornet
Filip Kostic
TIF Thoughts on Maxwel Cornet and West Ham…
Cornet could well make a realistic target as he is represented by Salthouse – an agent that West Ham co-owner David Sullivan supposedly favours.
With that in mind, the Hammers may well be able to pull off a deal that sees the Burnley man return to the Premier League. As Ex mentions, though, there could be some issues.
Indeed, Cornet has had a number of injury layoffs, and although nothing major, they have interrupted his career at various times over the past few seasons, and if David Moyes sees that as a problem, he may only want to loan the winger initially.
But with Burnley likely hoping his £17.5m release clause is met, this could end up complicating matters.