Brilliant West Ham update as Bundesliga star gives Moyes green light to sign him and outlines Premier League ‘goal’

West Ham are free to sign a Germany international after he admitted he is ‘open’ to a move this summer and also spoke about his desire to play in the Premier League.

West Ham are yet to sign anyone in the current transfer window. They now have the money to make some big transfers after selling club captain Declan Rice to Arsenal in a £105million deal.

The Irons have submitted a £40million bid to replace Rice with fellow England international Conor Gallagher. Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has revealed he wants to keep working with Gallagher, although those above him at Stamford Bridge have decided he will be sold if a £50m offer arrives.

But according to a recent report from Football Insider, West Ham may go in a different direction by landing Southampton talisman James Ward-Prowse. West Ham are leading the race to sign the set-piece specialist following Southampton’s relegation to the Championship.

While the Saints previously put his valuation at a whopping £52m, it has now been claimed they could accept between £35-45m for him.

Central midfield is not the only position West Ham will improve with the Rice money, as Moyes is also eager to bolster his defensive options.

West Ham have repeatedly been linked with Jonathan Tah, who has won 16 caps for the German national team and currently represents Bayer Leverkusen.

In June, Sky Germany revealed how West Ham had made contact with Leverkusen as they planned to activate the centre-back’s €18m (£15.4m) release clause. Then, on July 8, it was suggested new West Ham technical director Tim Steidten might use his connections with Leverkusen to help the transfer reach completion. Steidten worked at Leverkusen for four years before joining West Ham at the start of the month.

West Ham target ‘wants to leave’ current club

According to the latest from German source Kicker, Tah ‘wants to leave’ Leverkusen and this has put West Ham on alert.

Kicker have conducted an interview with the 27-year-old, during which he has revealed he is willing to secure a move and has also praised the English top flight.

“The market is still open. Anything can happen,” he said. “Of course, I’m aware of what I have here, and I appreciate that. But I’m the same, I’m open and listening to other things.

“There was also interest from other leagues, but it has always been my goal to play in the Premier League at some point.

“Because it’s simply the best league. Competing at this level is attractive, of course also at my age.”

Tah’s comments suggest he has already given West Ham the green light to sign him. If they begin contract talks with the player, then it should not take long for an agreement to be struck.

And the £15.4m fee which has previously been suggested would be good value for money for West Ham, considering Tah is at the peak of his powers and also has plenty of top-flight experience in Germany.

Should Moyes’ side go through with this signing, then Tah would compete with the likes of Nayef Aguerd, Kurt Zouma, Thilo Kehrer and Angelo Ogbonna for a starting place at the London Stadium.

Meanwhile, West Ham have been criticised for considering an important player’s cut-price exit to Saudi Arabia.