West Ham eye exciting additions of Fornals and Kabak

 

West Ham have earmarked Villarreal creator Pablo Fornals and Stuttgart centre-back Ozan Kabak as top transfer targets this summer, claims The Guardian.

 

The Hammers have made money available for Manuel Pellegrini to spend this summer as they aim to improve on last season’s 10th place finish in the Premier League.

 

West Ham were in talks with Spanish side Celta Vigo for a £50m double deal for Maxi Gomez and Stanislav Lobotka in January but their plans have changed since then.

 

While West Ham are still monitoring Gomez’s future, Pellegrini’s side are convinced Lobotka will end up moving to another club this summer and they are now keen on Fornals.

 

The Villarreal midfielder is more attacking than Lobotka and West Ham will reportedly open their bidding at £24m for the 23-year-old.

 

Fornals endured a disappointing campaign for LaLiga strugglers Villarreal last term, playing a direct hand in just five goals in 35 league appearances.

 

 

However, only Oscar Rodriguez (48) made more key passes than Fornals (45) of players aged 23 and under in LaLiga last season.

 

West Ham are also keen on signing highly rated Turkish centre-back Kabak from Stuttgart after the German side were relegated from the Bundesliga last season.

 

Kabak only signed for Stuttgart from Galatasaray in January but the 19-year-old has a €15m (£13.3m) release clause, which has attracted interest from West Ham.

 

The teenage defender scored three goals in 15 league games for Stuttgart last term and was named the Bundesliga Rookie of the Year for 2018/19.