Another midfielder down for West Ham United; the Premier League outfit hitting brick wall after brick wall in their pursuit of a much-needed addition in the centre of Graham Potter’s engine room.
Tyler Morton is leaving Liverpool for Lyon. Ideally, West Ham United had hoped to sign both Morton and Harvey Elliott. But, with the latter valued at £40 million, there is a very real chance that neither will be wearing claret and blue come September.
Speaking of claret and blue, Hammers News have been informed that Aston Villa are holding out for £50 million-plus for Jacob Ramsey.
Monaco starlet Saimon Bouabre had an offer from West Ham too, meanwhile. He, though, is about to accept the transfer Mohammed Kudus rejected.
After Kudus turned down Neom SC despite a staggering £320,000-a-week proposal, Bouabre is grasping the chance to join a host of Ligue 1 imports – including Alexandre Lacazette – at the Saudi Pro League newcomers.
But there was still time on Friday night for another midfield target to slip through Graham Potter’s grasp.
Reports over in Mexico always suggested it was likely to be a straight fight between West Ham and Real Betis for Monterrey enforcer Nelson Deossa. And, according to Fabrizio Romano, it is the La Liga outfit who have now delivered the knockout blow.
Fabrizio Romano before Manchester City v Manchester United - Emirates FA Cup Final
Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Fabrizio Romano says West Ham United-linked Nelson Deossa is set for Real Betis
Whether West Ham were actually ever in the ring to begin with, of course, is slightly uncertain.
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Reports this week claimed that West Ham had bid £10 million for Nelson Deossa. Claims which are yet to be corroborated by sources this side of the Atlantic.
Either way, there can be no doubt about the extent of Real Betis’ interest.
Romano claims that the Andalusian giants are set to seal a deal worth up to £12 million for a midfielder whose penchant for long-range thunderbolts could earn him plenty of admirers over in Spain.
“He also has a great shot, not only on the move but also from set pieces,” Freddy Altieri, who knows Deossa well from his time at Pachuca, tells Radio Canal Sur. “He’s proven that in Mexico because he’s scored a lot of goals [seven in 29 Monterrey appearances].
🟢⚪️✍🏻 Real Betis have signed all formal documents for Nelson Deossa to join the club until June 2030.
$14m plus $2m add-ons fee. pic.twitter.com/uTZIYcK3RM
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 2, 2025
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“He’s undoubtedly a very technical, talented, and physically dynamic player. Deossa has a very good change of pace, as Betis fans will have seen in the Club World Cup when he played for Monterrey.
“Furthermore, I think he’s a player who can really surprise because he can adapt to different tactical positions, depending on what the Betis coaching staff is looking for.”
Nelson Deossa and Daniel Svensson in action during Borussia Dortmund v CF Monterrey: Round Of 16 - FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Photo by Carl Recine – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Deossa gone but Romano Schmid and Raphael Onyedika are still available
Like his fellow Colombian and another of the Club World Cup’s standout performers – West Ham reportedly approached Richard Rios too before he left Palmeiras for Benfica to the tune of £23 million – Nelson Deossa ticks a lot of Graham Potter’s boxes.
Potter appears to be prioritising an athletic, physically-dominant yet technically gifted midfielder capable of contributing at both ends of the field.
The Real Betis-bound star is certainly that – Nelson Deossa made no secret of his ‘dream’ to leave Mexico for Europe – but there are still plenty of other options out there even if he joins Morton, Bouabre and co among a growing crop of unavailables.
Werder Bremen could sell Romano Schmid – their all-action, gegenpressing dynamo – for a bargain £13 million. Mateus Fernandes may look to leave Southampton in order to boost his chances of playing for Portugal at the 2026 World Cup.
And, while Raphael Onyedika is in no rush to leave Club Brugge, his camp have already explained that the Nigeria ace may struggle to reject West Ham if an offer does indeed arrive before September.