West Ham are firmly in the mix to sign a former Barcelona player who is yet to respond to his club's latest offer a new contract, and a move to England is believed to be likely.
West Ham spirit remains despite unfortunate FA Cup shootout defeat
West Ham's FA Cup run is over after a quarter-final that will take some time to process at the London Stadium.
West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo reacts
Leeds had appeared to have the tie wrapped up, holding a 2-0 lead as the match entered the final minute of normal time.
Goals from Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the latter from the penalty spot, put Leeds firmly in control — and thousands of West Ham supporters had already left the ground by the time the clock hit 90.
What followed was extraordinary.
Mateus Fernandes pulled one back after Jarrod Bowen struck the post, and Axel Disasi levelled from a cross to force extra time — with those who had left early attempting, unsuccessfully, to get back in.
Extra time produced two more West Ham goals, both ruled out for offside — Taty Castellanos and Pablo each finding the net only to be flagged.
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It would be a blow for the Hammers.
Bowen also struck the woodwork as the Hammers pushed desperately for a winner that did not come.
The shootout brought one final twist. Alphonse Areola went down injured with time almost up, forcing 20-year-old debutant Finlay Herrick into the contest.
Herrick saved the first kick from Joel Piroe, but Leeds keeper Lucas Perri denied both Bowen and Pablo to send the visitors through.
For West Ham, it is a result that stings all the more given how close they came.
Nuno Espírito Santo's side sit 18th in the Premier League, one point adrift of safety, and the distraction of a Wembley run would have been welcome.
lucas-perri-leeds-west-ham
Instead, the focus returns fully to the league — and to summer planning that was already underway before the final whistle, despite their troubles.
West Ham repeatedly knocking to sign Oscar Mingueza for months
One name firmly on the radar is Óscar Mingueza.
Celta Vigo's Oscar Mingueza during the warm up before the match
According to Estadio Deportivo, West Ham have been 'knocking on his door for months', with this potentially meaning repeated contact as his contract situation at the La Liga club continues to develop.
The 26-year-old, who moved to Vigo from Barcelona in 2022, has less than three months remaining on his deal.
Celta have tabled a renewal offer worth around £3.5m gross per year and their sporting director, Marco Garcés, has publicly acknowledged the situation is in Mingueza's hands.
"The situation is in his hands," Garces told DAZN.
"He knows he has an offer from us, and we hope he makes a decision. He hasn’t responded yet."
The club are aware, however, that they will not be able to match what clubs from the Premier League are likely to put on the table.
A key development in this story is the change of representation.
Mingueza has switched to British agency Unique Sports Group, and no discussions have taken place between his new representatives and Celta over an extension.
Estadio go on to report that his future is now considered likely to lie in England as a result of that connection.
Celta Vigo's Oscar Mingueza in action with Olympique Lyonnais' Steeve Kango
Juventus, who attempted to sign him during the winter window, remain interested, with Como, Newcastle and Villa also mentioned as suitors as well.
Mingueza represents exactly the kind of low-risk, high-value addition West Ham will be looking to make regardless of which division they find themselves in next season, but if they do go down, it'll be a very tall order to convince him with other clubs right at the table.
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