Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson
Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson
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The Hammers had been closing in on a £3m deal for the Arsenal winger, with personal terms reportedly agreed and the transfer thought to be close.
But Claret & Hugh claimed on Thursday that West Ham had developed concerns over the 26-year-old's injury record and were backing away from the deal.
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After all, he's missed 93 games through injury over the last eight seasons.
The situation isn't completely clear-cut, though, with BBC reporter Sami Mokbel reporting on Friday that talks over a permanent transfer remain ongoing.
So Nelson might still end up at London Stadium.
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But if West Ham do decide against signing him, they already know exactly where to look for an alternative.
Amario Cozier-Duberry would make a lot of sense.
West Ham have already moved for Amario Cozier-Duberry
The 21-year-old Brighton winger has already been on West Ham's radar this summer.
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Reports last month claimed the Hammers had a £5m offer rejected for Cozier-Duberry, with Rangers, Paris FC and Augsburg also showing an interest in the former Arsenal youngster.
That interest came after an excellent loan spell with Bolton Wanderers.
Cozier-Duberry registered 10 goals and 13 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions as Bolton won promotion to the Championship through the League One play-offs.
He was also named in the League One Team of the Season, while his performances were good enough for his Bolton teammates to vote him their Players' Player of the Year.
That's serious output from a player who only turned 21 in May.
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And perhaps more importantly, Cozier-Duberry would give Nuno Espirito Santo something this West Ham squad still lacks, which is genuine pace.
Former West Ham and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere even went as far as saying the winger reminded him of Bukayo Saka, while he was in charge of Arsenal U18s in 2023.
Cozier-Duberry gives West Ham something different
West Ham have already added Manor Solomon this summer, while Jarrod Bowen remains one of the club's biggest attacking threats.
Both are capable of carrying the ball and hurting teams in the final third.
But neither possesses the kind of explosive pace West Ham lost when Crysencio Summerville departed.
Cozier-Duberry has it in abundance.
The Brighton youngster predominantly operates from the right but can play from either flank, likes attacking defenders directly and has the ability to create as well as score.
Indeed, during a remarkable run of form for Bolton last season, Brighton described him as a "League One cheat code" after he scored twice and assisted another two goals in a 4-0 win over Port Vale.
That is exactly the kind of unpredictability West Ham could use.
Nelson would still represent very good value at £3m if the club are satisfied with his fitness.
But at 26, we largely know what type of player he is.
Cozier-Duberry is different, though, and there's still a feeling his ceiling could be significantly higher.
West Ham would be buying potential as well as promotion quality
There is obviously an element of risk.
Cozier-Duberry has already had one opportunity in the Championship and it didn't exactly go to plan.
He spent the first half of the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Blackburn Rovers, where he scored just once in 22 league appearances.
But his season at Bolton suggests he has learned from that experience and pushed on.
He went from struggling to influence games in the Championship to becoming one of League One's standout attacking players within a year, helping his side win promotion in the process.
Brighton clearly saw huge potential when they signed him from Arsenal in 2024, handing him a four-year contract after he had scored 13 goals and registered five assists for Arsenal's U21s the previous season.
West Ham now have to decide whether they believe that potential is worth investing in.
West Ham should revisit £5m Cozier-Duberry deal
The Hammers aren't just building a squad to get out of the Championship.
They need to be thinking about what that squad looks like if they return to the Premier League, and we already know that's the strategy Nuno is executing this summer.
That's where Cozier-Duberry perhaps makes more sense than Nelson.
He is five years younger, already has a promotion under his belt and is coming off a season in which he contributed directly to 23 goals.
He also gives Nuno something different to Bowen and Solomon.
And West Ham have already shown they're interested enough to put £5m on the table.
Brighton rejected it but that doesn't mean a deal is impossible.
If West Ham ultimately conclude Nelson's injury record makes the £3m gamble one they don't want to take, they shouldn't simply move on to another experienced winger of a similar profile.
West Ham need players capable of getting them promoted now and improving enough to play a role in the Premier League later.
After 23 goal contributions and a promotion last season, Cozier-Duberry looks capable of doing both.