Transfer News: West Ham to bid for England U21 Euro winner; Leeds among eight eyeing Mr Versatile

West Ham are preparing for defensive reinforcements, Coventry City look set to lose another key player, while a Middlesbrough stalwart also looks to be on the move and Forest Green Rovers look set for a transfer coup in League Two.

WEST HAM TO BID FOR MAX AARONS

TEAMtalk understands West Ham United are preparing to bid for Norwich City’s Max Aarons.

The right-back, who this month became an Under-21 European champion with England, broke into the Canaries’ first team in 2018 and has gone on to make over 200 appearances, including two seasons in the Premier League.

Aarons, 23, has one year left on his Norwich contract, but the club will not stand in his way should an appropriate bid materialise this summer.

In May, Norwich’s outgoing sporting director Stuart Webber told The Athletic: “I think it’s time probably for Max to make a move, if I’m honest. I’ve said that to him.

“I think he’s outgrown the club. I think he’s ready to go and he needs a new stimulus now, and that’s OK.

“But it’s got to be right for us as a club because we’d rather lose him on a free in a year than sell him cheap now, which then devalues our other players and we still then have to replace him.

“We’re comfortable if Max ends up leaving in a year.”

ASTON VILLA REJECT BID FOR IN-DEMAND WINGER

Aston Villa have turned down a bid for Jaden Philogene from Turkish giant Fenerbahce.

Scouts from a number of European clubs have been keeping tabs on Philogene’s development as they see him as a potential star in the making.

It’s Fenerbahce who’ve acted on their interest, though their bid has been knocked back by Unai Emery’s side.

PADDY MCNAIR TO LEAVE MIDDLESBROUGH

Middlesbrough are ready to listen to offers for Northern Irish ace Paddy McNair, TEAMtalk understands.

The 28-year-old defender, who can also feature in midfield, has just a year left on his current deal and Boro are not in a position to reject a good bid for him.

They are also well covered in central defender having added young Dutchman Rav van den Berg to a pool that already includes Darragh Lenihan, Dael Fry, Matt Clarke and Anfernee Dijksteel.

Newly promoted Luton Town have enquired, and TEAMtalk understands fellow promotion winners Burnley and Sheffield United have an interest, while Fulham, Bournemouth, Leicester and Leeds are also believed to be keeping tabs on the former Manchester United man.

FOREST, FULHAM & BURNLEY EYE £16M HAMER

Coventry City are not only set to lose star striker Viktor Gyokeres this window, with Gustavo Hamer set to follow him out of the club.

Gyokeres is closing on his move to Sporting Lisbon in a deal worth around £20million and the Sky Blues are now looking for near that amount for Hamer.

Hamer was outstanding last season for Mark Robins’s side as they lost in the Championship play-off final to Luton Town, with many observers believing that Hamer going off injured at Wembley was the main reason they failed to win.

The Brazilian-born Dutch midfielder is attracting interest from a host of clubs – and Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Burnley have all held talks about a deal.

TEAMtalk understands the overall deal for Hamer would be worth around £16m to Coventry, who paid £1million to PEC Zwolle for him in 2020.

MORE EFL TRANSFER NEWS

• Forest Green are set to sign former Brentford and Middlesbrough goalkeeper Luke Daniels on a free transfer. Daniels turned down offers to be No.2 keeper at a number of Championship clubs to be No.1 keeper at Forest Green.
• Northampton have rejected a Gillingham bid for winger Mitch Pinnock.
• Swansea City are sizing up Brighton goalkeeper Carl Rushworth on loan. The England Under-21 international will be included in Brighton’s pre-season tour of America, but is no higher than fourth choice at the AMEX and could make way