Amadou Onana is still of considerable interest to West Ham United, who are plotting a fresh bid for the 20-year-old Lille midfielder.
According to Foot Mercato, West Ham United are plotting a new offer for Lille midfielder Amadou Onana after having their earlier approach rejected by the Ligue 1 giants. However, the details of the new proposal are currently under wraps, as Les Dogues have not clarified their demands.
Amadou Onana became an essential player for Lille in the second half of the 2021/22 season when he began starting games regularly. Before that, the 20-year-old was a formidable option off the bench, but his performances in the latter part have attracted plenty of interest from England.
Lille have always been open to ideas in the transfer market regarding player sales. The Ligue 1 giants have done considerable business in the last few years, and this summer, they have already managed to sell Sven Botman to Newcastle United for €37 million.
There could be more sales, and Onana is one of the players likely to depart from Stade Pierre-Mauroy. West Ham United have been tailing the 20-year-old all summer and have seen at least one offer get rejected by Lille, which reportedly amounted to €23 million.
Few reports suggested the Hammers had lodged an improved offer, but the €38 million figure that was reported seems wide off the mark. However, David Moyes remains keen on signing the defensive midfielder, with West Ham plotting a fresh bid to tempt Lille into a sale.
The details of the new offer remain under wraps as Lille have yet to clarify the demands for the 20-year-old’s sale. However, the Ligue 1 outfit are in a strong position, considering Onana has four years left on his contract. And following his bright displays, they might wait on big clubs to make more offers in the future.
However, Lille’s well-documented financial struggles and the potential of losing considerable revenue due to their non-participation in European competition could tempt them to accept a reasonable offer for players like Onana.
The Hammers remain keen to strengthen their midfield options, with Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice their only two quality options, with new signing Flynn Downes likely to be eased into the thick of things. The retirement of Mark Noble offers space for a recruit, and West Ham are considering alternatives, with Benfica’s Julian Weigl also a target.
However, in Onana, Moyes will have a physical option to screen the defence, allowing Rice to play a more advanced role in midfield. Whether West Ham will make a reasonable offer in the coming days remains to be seen, but the interest in the 20-year-old Lille midfielder is strong.
