West Ham to Sell £17.5m Winger After Loan Recall
West Ham United are preparing to recall winger Maxwel Cornet from his loan at Southampton and put him up for sale in January, as manager Julen Lopetegui aims to raise funds for new signings.
Lopetegui has been in talks with club chairman David Sullivan regarding transfer plans for the upcoming winter window. While the manager was tight-lipped about specifics, he confirmed ongoing discussions about the squad and upcoming challenges.
West Ham are reportedly targeting a new striker and have shown interest in Real Sociedad’s Brais Mendez. There are also rumors linking them to Brighton’s Evan Ferguson on a potential loan deal.
However, after significant spending over the summer, the club needs to sell players before making new acquisitions. Cornet, who joined West Ham for £17.5 million from Burnley in 2022, has struggled to make an impact and is now seen as expendable.
The 28-year-old Ivorian winger impressed at Burnley, finishing as their top scorer in the 2021/22 Premier League season with 9 goals. But he has failed to replicate that form at West Ham or during his loan spell at Southampton.
By recalling Cornet and putting him on the market, West Ham hope to recoup some of their initial investment to boost Lopetegui’s transfer budget. The manager is keen to strengthen key areas of the squad as they look to climb the Premier League table in the second half of the season.