EXCLUSIVE: West Ham track Edouard as Fornals pushed towards exit

Steve Kay

1 Dec 2023 06:28 CST
3 min read

West Ham want to sign Odsonne Edouard — © ProShots

West Ham are exploring the possibility of a January transfer move for Crystal Palace forward Odsonne Edouard while Pablo Fornals could leave David Moyes’ side, FootballTransfers can exclusively reveal.

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The Hammers have injury concerns over striker Michail Antonio, and while manager Moyes has suggested the 33-year-old could be back by Christmas, the forward’s form has been such that the London side were considering dipping into the transfer market in any case.

Edouard is one possibility that is being seriously explored, with Crystal Palace open to a departure for the former Celtic forward.

FootballTransfers has been told that the deal could either be a loan or permanent, although there is no indication yet how much West Ham are prepared to spend on the forward.

© ProShots - Odsonne Edouard, Crystal Palace

Edouard joined Palace in 2021 from Celtic for €16.3 million and the 25-year-old has a contract that runs until 2025. Unless a new deal is agreed before the summer, Roy Hodgson’s side face the prospect of losing him for nothing.

His current Expected Transfer Value is €14.9m, down from a peak of €21.7m.

As Palace’s front-line striker, he has scored five Premier League goals this season, though only one since mid-September.

Edouard joins a shortlist that already includes PSG's Hugo Ekitike and Bayern Munich's Joshua Zirkzee.

All are vying to join West Ham as a direct replacement for Antonio, who has been unsettled since the summer, when the club closed the door on a possible transfer to the Saudi Pro League to him.

West Ham open to Fornals transfer

West Ham could also offload versatile midfielder Pablo Fornals this January, FootballTransfers has been informed.

Sevilla and Fulham hold an interest in the player.

The 27-year-old, who has been capped six times by Spain, has been a largely peripheral figure for David Moyes’ side this season. He has played only 167 Premier League minutes, more than half of which came on the opening day of the season in a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth.

Although he has been regularly used in the club’s Europa League challenge, the path is clear for the former Villarreal and Malaga man to depart.