West Ham are in active discussions with Bayer Leverkusen director Simon Rolfes and Nottingham Forest over transfer deals as the club step up efforts to land much-needed reinforcements before the window closes.
A top Hammers insider revealed West Ham’s owners vowed to ‘get stuck in’ to transfer business this week after growing frustrated with a lack of progress on targets identified by Graham Potter and Kyle Macaulay.
They have certainly been true to their word if that is the case with West Ham being linked with an unprecedented number of midfielders, easily surpassing 20 in number.
West Ham bursting into life in what remains of the summer transfer window comes much to the detriment of Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest.
Hammers News has reported on why midfield destroyer Soungoutou Magassa has chosen West Ham over Nottingham Forest as the Hammers get a much-needed ‘here we go’ from Fabrizio Romano.
Hammers grab the scattergun for midfield rebuild
It came after Nottingham Forest won the race for alleged Hammers targets James McAtee, Omari Hutchinson and Douglas Luiz.
With Magassa seemingly on his way to the London Stadium, pending a successful medical, West Ham have now turned their attentions to a raid on Nuno Espirito Santo’s side and Bayer Leverkusen.
West Ham are now in talks with Simon Rolfes and Nottingham Forest over two eye-catching transfers.
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Any doubts over whether West Ham’s midfield desperately needed an overhaul have been put to bed in the first two games of the new season.
Exequiel Palacios gets the better of James Ward-Prowse in West Ham's Europa League quarter-final against Bayer Leverkusen
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West Ham United FC v Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Quarter-Final Second Leg - UEFA Europa League 2023/24
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VfL Bochum v Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Pre-Season Friendly
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Nottingham Forest v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League
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The Hammers have made their worst ever start to a Premier League campaign with heavy defeats to Sunderland and Chelsea.
Potter’s slow, immobile, unimaginative midfield has been brutally exposed.
That has seen West Ham grab the transfer scattergun in panic ahead of a big game away at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
The Hammers have been linked with bids for over 20 midfielders in unprecedented scenes.
Football correspondent Graeme Bailey has revealed to Hammers News that West Ham are trying to do a deal with Bayer Leverkusen director Simon Rolfes for Exequiel Palacios.
West Ham in talks with Rolfes and Forest over eye-catching deals
As West Ham prepare to offload ageing Argentine midfielder Guido Rodriguez, they want his infinitely more athletic and energetic compatriot Palacios as a replacement, Bailey claims.
“West Ham want two midfielders in by Monday, they are working hard and Palacios is a player that they have long appreciated,” Bailey told Hammers News.
“Palacios really is a top performer.
“He played a big part in Bayer’s Bundesliga win in 2024 – he is a top level performer and would be an upgrade.
“But lots of loan deals are being assessed in the hope they get two of them over the line.”
Ibrahim Sangare in action for Nottingham Forest against Brentford in the Premier League
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One of those loan deals is for Nottingham Forest’s Ibrahim Sangare.
West Ham were first linked with a move for Sangare three years ago when they were planning ahead for the eventual departure of Declan Rice.
But the Ivorian signed for Forest for £30 million when Rice left for Arsenal in the summer of 2023 instead.
Injuries and illness have prevented Sangare from really laying down a marker at the City Ground.
Now according to The Sun journalist Jack Rosser, West Ham have made an approach to land Sangare on loan for the remainder of the campaign.
While loans have rarely been big successes at West Ham, Rosser claims an obligation clause could be included in the deal if certain milestones are met by Sangare during his time in east London.
Excl: West Ham have approached Nottingham Forest over a loan deal for Ibrahim Sangare.
Proposal is a loan with a potential obligation to buy if certain clauses are met. #WHUFC #NFFC
— Jack Rosser (@JackRosser_) August 26, 2025
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Sangare managed just 17 appearances for Forest in his first season and the same number last term too.
However, he has started both of Nottingham Forest’s opening two games, a 3-1 win over Brentford and 1-1 draw with Palace.