
West Ham United
Premier League • England
West Ham to launch fresh move for Amadou Onana as Moyes pushes Irons chiefs to complete deal

West Ham are reportedly close to making a new approach for Lille star Amadou Onana after having their opening bid rejected by the French club.
Onana impressed for Lille during the 2021-22 campaign, playing in 41 matches across all competitions. The defensive midfielder helped Lille finish 10th in the Ligue 1 table – which saw the league title go back to Paris Saint-Germain – as well as reach the Champions League round of 16.
Onana only joined the side in August 2021, as they paid Hamburger SV £6.3million for him. And his contract in France runs until June 2026.
Despite this, the one-cap Belgium international could leave Lille amid the new season getting underway.
He has been linked with Liverpool and Arsenal this year. But it is West Ham who are pushing hardest to capture Onana.
According to Sky Sports, the Irons had a £32million bid for him rejected recently. French outlet Foot Mercato, though, claim the initial offer to be worth £19.2m.
West Ham remain in negotiations with Lille and Foot Mercato provide an update on these talks. They state David Moyes’ side will put a fresh bid on the table for Onana in the coming days.
West Ham ‘really want’ to sign him and hope a new bid will be enough to strike a transfer agreement.
Amadou Onana wanted in east London
Clearly, Moyes is a big fan of the 20-year-old and has told West Ham chiefs to put up even more money for him.
The report doesn’t reveal exactly how much the new offer will be worth. Lille’s response, of course, will depend on whether the bid matches their valuation of Onana.
His long-term contract at the Stade Pierre Mauroy means they don’t have to accept any proposal. But the moves of Sven Botman and Boubakary Soumare show Lille will sell if the price is right.
Moyes can already utilise Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and new signing Flynn Downes in central midfield. But adding Onana to his ranks would be a shrewd move.
The player is only 20 years old and has top-flight and Champions League experience, as well as good potential.
Some may view him as a replacement for Rice, who is a target for the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City.
But the Englishman appears set to remain at the London Stadium, for next season at least. This means Onana will provide Rice and Soucek with competition for places.
West Ham are once again in Europe after finishing seventh in the Prem last term. They will compete in the Europa Conference League, which Roma won in May.
Signing Onana would allow Moyes to rest Rice and Soucek in some of these games by pairing the Belgian with Downes in the middle of the park.
Meanwhile, West Ham are in competition with Brighton to sign a former Manchester City player, as per a German journalist.