West Ham identify Bayern star as Declan Rice replacement

The Declan Rice transfer saga is officially over. The midfielder is now an Arsenal player and the most expensive English player ever. It will not be a secret to any selling team negotiating with West Ham that they have tons of money to spend now. Players such as Scott McTominay and Joao Palhinha have recently been linked as replacements for Declan Rice. Sky Germany is now reporting that Bayern Munich’s midfielder Leon Goretzka is an option for the Hammers. A bid is reportedly being prepared, but a specific amount has not been identified.

The expectation is that West Ham will look to spend some of the Rice money on his replacement in the near future. Sky’s Florian Plettenberg states that West Ham is eyeing up Goretzka because it is believed Bayern are open to the German departing the club. Plettenberg believes Bayern would be willing to sell Goretzka in the range of £34M to £43M.

With the arrival of Konrad Laimer and the return of Marcel Sabizter, it is not out of the question that Goretzka sees his role reduced. A sale of Leon Goretzka, especially if it was for around £43M, would go a long way in the hopes of signing Tottenham’s Harry Kane. Plettenberg believes that Leon Goretzka does not want to leave Bayern, and given West Ham’s league position last season, it’s unlikely he would push for a move.

In the same report, Plettenberg says that Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher is a target for West Ham, among Denis Zakaria, Edson Alvarez and Sofyan Amrabat, who are also alternatives to Leon Goretzka.

West Ham have yet to make a signing this transfer window, perhaps because of their time dedicated to selling Declan Rice to Arsenal. Departures also include Arthur Masuaku, who’s joined Besiktas and Manuel Lazini, who is currently a free agent.