**West Ham United could finalise a deal to sign Barcelona youngster Hector Fort on a season-long loan deal next week, according to [SPORT](https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/barca-prepara-salida-inscribir-hector-120838471).**
The Hammers are looking to strengthen their backline before the transfer window closes and are in advanced talks with Barca over a deal for Fort.
The 19-year-old has reportedly been permitted to leave Camp Nou this summer and was absent from the first team training ahead of Barca’s clash with Levante.
If negotiations continue smoothly, the deal could be wrapped up as early as next week.
Fort has been weighing up multiple offers in recent weeks, but the Premier League is emerging as his most likely destination.
West Ham’s willingness to push forward has placed them ahead of rivals such as Everton, Serie A side Como, and La Liga’s Mallorca, who all showed interest at different points this summer.
A move to West Ham would give Fort a chance to get first-team minutes under his belt, which has been hard to come by at Barca.
He was promoted to the senior squad last season to play second fiddle to Jules Kounde, but he has hardly gotten a chance to impress manager Hansi Flick.
While Fort wants regular first-team minutes, he only wants to leave Barca on a loan deal. He still believes his long-term future lies with his boyhood club and will fight for his place next season.
Meanwhile, West Ham could complete a double raid on Barca next week, with the Hammers also eyeing a move for [midfielder Marc Casado](https://westhamblog.co.uk/posts/west-ham-eye-move-for-barcelona-midfielder-marc-casado/).
Like Fort, Casado is also keen to establish himself at Barca, so a move to West Ham could be complicated, but he isn’t guaranteed playing time if he sticks with the Spanish champions.
Fort can play on either side of the defence, and his versatility is a key part of his profile.
Meanwhile, West Ham are also ramping up efforts to sign a new midfielder with AS Monaco’s Soungoutou Magassa firmly on their radar.