West Ham United have had a loan approach turned down for Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri, according to reports.
The Hammers have been in the firing line of the Premier League for some time this season, having occupied a bottom three place since the start of December, and being outside the relegation zone at the end of just three gameweeks from a possible 21.
It's clear that an injection of talent is needed in their side, and having spent £47million on Taty Castellanos and Pablo for their striking ranks, some creativity is on their shortlist. However, it won't be Nwaneri to come through the London Stadium doors, with Arsenal rebuffing the Hammers' advances.
Report: Arsenal Turn Down Ethan Nwaneri Loan Move From West Ham
Ethan Nwaneri
The report by Football London states that West Ham are amongst the list of clubs who have seen their advances for Nwaneri turned down already in the January transfer window.
The 'phenomenal' teen has only featured in 515 minutes of first-team football this season, despite somewhat lengthy injuries to Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard this season. That is less football than the likes of Christian Norgaard and Ben White, who have struggled to break into the side, and only a few minutes more than backup keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
That's all within months of signing a new long-term £100,000-a-week deal in north London, and with West Ham massively struggling in the Premier League relegation battle, it's seen Nuno Espirito Santo hatch a plan to land the youngster on loan for the rest of the season.
The Gunners do not deem a loan to be essential this winter, and although West Ham were keen to explore the possibility of taking the England youngster on loan, discussions 'failed to bear fruit' and Nwaneri will remain under Mikel Arteta's guise as they finally look to end their run of 21 years without a Premier League title.
Although he's not garnering minutes, he is still learning from the likes of Odegaard and Eberechi Eze, honing his craft.
West Ham Would Have Benefitted from Nwaneri and Time is Running Out
Arsenal attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri celebrating
Make no mistake of their current situation, West Ham need all the help they can get at this point in their Premier League survival push.
Standing seven points behind Nottingham Forest and eight points behind Leeds United, the next-best after that is Bournemouth on 26 - marking a huge 12-point gap to the Hammers.
In fact, a late Burnley win against Manchester United last week would've seen the Hammers drop to 19th in the table, and should Forest and Leeds continue their tally of a point-per-game or more, the Hammers will need to take 25 points from their final 17 games - which is European qualification form.
Nwaneri would undoubtedly bolster their ranks, especially with Lucas Paqueta favouring a move back to Brazil, and that little spark of magic could just see them achieve the great escape.