With just under a month to go until the transfer window slams shut, West Ham United have now reportedly established direct contact to sign a Premier League rival.
Potter: West Ham still "working" on incomings
Having so far welcomed just four fresh faces in the form of Daniel Cummings, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Kyle Walker-Peters and Callum Wilson, West Ham still look short on the quality to improve on last season.
However, with a few weeks remaining until deadline day, Graham Potter has insisted that the Hammers are still working on potential incomings. He told reporters: "We’re working behind the scenes and if there’s an opportunity to strengthen, we will.”
To that end, it seems as though a new goalkeeper took West Ham's immediate priority following Wilson's arrival, with Botafogo's John Victor currently the favourite to arrive this month. The Hammers have reportedly held advanced talks to sign the Brazilian, who would instantly have the task of battling for Alphonse Areola's starting role.
When compared, it is the potential new arrival that stands out for his quality. That said, whether that will remain the case in the Premier League is the question that West Ham must ask themselves.
Meanwhile, away from their defensive third, those at the London Stadium have also set their sights on other potential reinforcements before the transfer window slams shut.
Having strengthened in attack and added to their backline, West Ham have now reportedly made their first move to sign a midfield arrival who knows all about the Premier League.
As reported by Caught Offside, West Ham have now established direct contact to sign Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa this summer. The Villans are reportedly demanding as much as £43m to sell their midfield graduate, with Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur joining the Hammers in an all-Premier League race.
Jacob-Ramsey
The 24-year-old struggled with injuries once again last season and started just 19 Premier League games. But his quality in those games cannot be ignored. By the end of the campaign, Ramsey had one goal and five assists to his name in a total of 29 appearances at the heart of Unai Emery's side.
Ramsey's injury history Season Games Missed (via Transfermarkt)
Hamstring Injury 24/25 9
Muscle injury 24/25 1
Toe injury 23/24 17
Hamstring injury 23/24 2
Foot injury 23/24 8
Metatarsal fracture 23/24 9
Hamstring injury 22/23 4
West Ham have already taken a risk on the injury-prone Wilson - albeit a far cheaper one - and should now consider adding Ramsey to their summer additions.
A player who Steven Gerrard once backed to become a "terrific" player, Ramsey would have every opportunity to become that at West Ham if he swapped the Midlands for the London Stadium this summer.