West Ham have been handed a fresh boost in their pursuit of Jacob Ramsey, as Aston Villa enter talks to sign an exciting midfield replacement.
With Unai Emery’s side seemingly preparing for life without the 24-year-old, the Hammers may now be in pole position to strike a deal.
West Ham and Aston Villa are both having to tip-toe around PSR this summer transfer window.
As a result it has been rather underwhelming for the Hammers and Villans.
West Ham made their third signing of the summer when they unveiled ageing, injury-prone striker Callum Wilson on a free transfer at the weekend.
The fact Wilson follows another free agent arrival in 28-year-old Kyle Walker-Peters says everything about West Ham’s financial position right now.
Financial rules restricting West Ham and Aston Villa this summer
Aston Villa have among the wealthiest and most ambitious owners in the Premier League.
But they have had to exploit a PSR loophole by selling their women’s team to comply with the financial regulations before the end of June deadline.
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That did mean Aston Villa avoided having to sell a player to raise the £40m that was reportedly needed.
And the man the Midlands club were preparing to sacrifice was reportedly Jacob Ramsey – to West Ham.
The Hammers have made Aston Villa star Ramsey their prime midfield target..
Aston Villa were willing to sell Ramsey to West Ham when it looked like Emery would have to sell a key star by the end of June to raise £40m in order to comply with PSR.
But Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens used a PSR loophole by selling their women’s team instead.
Aston Villa owners Nassef Sawiris and Wesley Edens in discussions in the ceowd
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Villa’s finances are still holding them back in the transfer market, though, with UEFA’s squad cost rules also limiting their spending on wages in relation to the club’s revenue.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire recently revealed that is close to the limit for Villa.
John McGinn has blasted PSR rules, claiming it was stopping Sawiris and Edens using their money to make Villa a real force.
That suggests sales will still be needed at Aston Villa if Emery is to have money to spend on targets.
Ramsey is a client of agent Will Salthouse, who is close with West Ham chief David Sullivan and his sons.
Salthouse has a big influence on the Hammers’ transfer business – the latest example being the arrival of Wilson.
The fact West Ham retain an interest in Ramsey suggests they may be getting encouragement from Salthouse or the player’s camp that a deal could be done.
West Ham’s Ramsey boost as Villa open talks for replacement
Aston Villa appeared to drop a massive hint Ramsey could be West Ham-bound last week.
However, West Ham were coy when asked about a move for Ramsey – with their response inadvertently suggesting a move may be progressing.
Hammers News revealed West Ham faced three major issues in signing Ramsey from Aston Villa.
One of those being that Villa valued the former England Under 21 star at between £50-60m, reflecting the fact they feel he is one of the best young midfielders in Europe.
West Ham got new hope on a deal for Ramsey when a top Villa reporter revealed the club has dropped their asking price by £10-20m, down to £30-40m, a much more realistic and feasible fee for the Irons.
Now the east Londoners have been handed another huge Ramsey boost as Aston Villa open talks for an exciting replacement.
Jacob Ramsey during Fulham FC v Aston Villa - Premier League
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Villa lead race for Sara as Hammers push for Ramsey deal
Top agent sources have revealed Aston Villa are understood to be ready to sign Galatasaray’s Brazilian star Gabriel Sara in a deal worth around £30-35m.
Man City are also interested in Sara along with several other Premier League clubs, according to a report from Caught Offside.
But it is claimed Villa hold the advantage because their move is the ‘most advanced’
Gala will reluctantly sell Sara as they have a big Victor Osimhen bill to pay for.
Like Ramsey, he is capable of playing as an attacking midfielder and in a box-to-box role.
The 26-year-old is two years older than Ramsey but has a more consistent goal and assists record than Ramsey, who has suffered his fair share of injuries.
The fact Villa are moving for Sara very much suggests they are going to be offloading Ramsey, which will be music to the ears of West Ham, who want to convince the player to be a leading star in Graham Potter’s new-look side after he slipped down the pecking order under Emery.
Ironically West Ham were linked with a move for Sara when he was at Norwich in 2023.
Now the Brazilian joining Villa could unlock West Ham’s move to sign Ramsey.