West Ham quoted huge sum for Fulham's Joao Palhinha as they seek replacement for new Arsenal signing Declan Rice
West Ham have been quoted £60 million ($78m) for Joao Palhinha by Fulham as they look to replace Declan Rice after his move to Arsenal.
WHAT HAPPENED? The Hammers have identified Palhinha as a potential replacement for Rice, but the Daily Mail reports that Fulham are demanding the whopping £60m fee to let the Portugal international leave — a player whom the Cottagers signed for just £20m ($26m) a year ago.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: West Ham, as a result, are sifting through their list of midfield targets, which includes the likes of Southampton's James Ward-Prowse, Juventus' Denis Zakaria, Ajax's Edson Alvarez, Leeds United's Tyler Adams, and Manchester United's Scott McTominay. West Ham have £105m ($137m) to spend after Rice's move to Arsenal, but it is likely to inflate the asking price of their targets.
AND WHAT'S MORE: Palhinha has become a key player for Fulham since his move to the club last summer, making 40 appearances, and he has a contract until 2027, strengthening the Cottagers' hand when it comes to negotiations.
IN THREE PHOTOS:
WHAT NEXT? West Ham will aim to spend some of the money received from the Rice deal in the coming weeks.
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