Leeds United boss Daniel Farke loves a hostile football ground
Leeds United were also interested in a return for their Championship title-winner over the summer.
Leeds United 2024/25 Championship title hero Manor Solomon is the subject of January transfer interest from West Ham, according to reports.
Solomon played a decisive role in last season’s promotion triumph after joining the Whites on loan from Tottenham Hotspur in 2024, registering an impressive 10 goals and 12 assists in 39 league games. The last of those goals is now etched into Leeds folklore, with his final-day added-time winner at Plymouth Argyle ensuring the Championship title went to Elland Road instead of Burnley.
Leeds were interested in a potential permanent move for Solomon over the summer but after early-summer links, decided to look elsewhere and signed Noah Okafor from AC Milan for £18million. The Israeli international instead joined Villarreal on loan for the season in the final minutes of the transfer window.
Solomon has endured a difficult two-and-a-half months in Spain, however, with just one goal and one assist in 112 minutes of league action. Villarreal are currently third in La Liga but head coach Marcelino is not leaning on his loan winger in the same way Farke did during Leeds’ title win.
Multiple recent reports in Spain have claimed Solomon is unhappy at Villarreal and could have his season-long loan cut short, returning to Tottenham Hotspur before moving elsewhere. And according to El Periódico Mediterráneo (via Sport Witness), West Ham have emerged as a potential destination.
West Ham ‘enquire’ about ex-Leeds United loanee Manor Solomon
The Hammers have reportedly enquired about Solomon’s mid-season availability as they prepare for a busy summer of recruitment. New manager Nuno Espirito Santo will be keen to mould the squad to his liking and with relegation a serious possibility, London Stadium chiefs are preparing to splash the cash in an attempt to pull away from trouble.
Attacking reinforcements are likely to be the priority for West Ham, given they only have two senior strikers and one - Niclas Fullkrug - is expected to move on in January, leaving only Callum Wilson. Wide attacking options are also being explored and Solomon could provide goals and assists from the wing like he did for Leeds.
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A move to West Ham would likely see Solomon competing for minutes with another former Leeds star. Crysencio Summerville joined the Hammers in a £28m deal last year and has cemented himself as first-choice right-winger under Espirito Santo, albeit he is yet to score a Premier League goal this season.
West Ham’s apparent eagerness to spend in January raises obvious questions as to what Leeds might do to strengthen their own survival bid. Club chiefs have openly admitted falling short when it came to attacking arrivals over the summer and saw a deadline-day move for Fulham’s Harry Wilson collapse at the final moment.
Managing director Robbie Evans explained after the window closed that Leeds were at the limit of their maximum permitted losses through PSR, with any further business needing to be offset either by future sales or other revenue streams. Whether those avenues will be explored come January remains to be seen.
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