West Ham have been put on red alert after a top BBC journalist made a major new claim about two Man United players Nuno Espirito Santo wants to sign.
And it could mean Manchester United join West Ham in being active when the January transfer window opens in three weeks.
The Hammers have confirmed they are looking at both loan and permanent signings for Nuno Espirito Santo.
Jesse Lingard’s arrival in east London from Man United back in 2021 proved to be one of West Ham’s best ever January window signings.
Now, five years on, the Hammers are hoping for similar inspiration from more Man United outcasts in the form of Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee.
West Ham hoping for another Lingard moment with Man United
It has been widely reported that West Ham have made official enquiries to the Red Devils for England midfielder Mainoo and Dutch forward Zirkzee.
West Ham’s January transfer plans were leaked recently by a leading Sky Sports reporter with links to co-owner David Sullivan.
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It was claimed the Irons are ready to back Nuno with at least three signings after the Portuguese asked for a defender, a midfielder, and a striker as a bare minimum.
Zirkzee and Mainoo are said to be two top targets for Nuno.
Reporter Ben Jacobs revealed lately that Nuno wants West Ham to sign Man United’s Mainoo as he eyes a midfielder with ‘real speed across the ground’.
Man United teammates Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee chat as they applaud the fans
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Nuno is said to specifically want ‘a number six or an eight who can go box-to-box’.
Mainoo certainly fits that bill and Man United fans have been scratching their heads at his lack of game time.
The midfielder is said to be pushing for a loan move to get game time ahead of the World Cup at the end of the season as he stakes his claim to earn a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the tournament.
West Ham have been awaiting Ruben Amorim’s answer on Mainoo after making an official approach about a loan deal.
West Ham on red alert over Man United duo Mainoo and Zirkzee
Legends Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have advised Mainoo to leave Man United in January amid West Ham’s interest.
Zirkzee, who is also wanted by the likes of Roma, is the kind of big, powerful hold-up striker Nuno reportedly wants to help make West Ham a better team.
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Amorim admitted West Ham target Zirkzee does want to leave with his own ambitions to make the Holland squad for the World Cup a major factor.
Now West Ham are on red alert as a top journalist makes a new claim about Man United duo Mainoo and Zirkzee.
When Mainoo made a rare substitute appearance for Man United in the win over Wolves, the Man United fans erupted.
Like West Ham, Man United fans love nothing more than seeing one of their own star in the first team.
Manchester United duo Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee
Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images
Mainoo has already proved he has the talent but, for reasons not quite clear as things stand, he has failed to win the trust of Amorim.
Man United fans have seen some outrageously good players down the years. So the fact Red Devils fans are so keen for Mainoo to be involved speaks volumes about his talent.
As West Ham wait for an answer ahead of the January window, though, it seems the next few weeks are critical.
That’s according to BBC Sport’s Man United reporter Simon Stone.
West Ham are losing two key stars to AFCON after the game with Villa on Sunday as Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf link up with DR Congo and Senegal respectively.
Major claim about Mainoo and Zirkzee could unlock transfers for West Ham and Man United
Man United are playing Bournemouth on Monday night and are waiting to hear whether they can use Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui before they head off to the tournament.
Stone points out that the trio will likely miss at least five or six Man United games as a minimum.
That spell, between December 16th and the first week of January, is when West Ham will get their answer on the availability of Mainoo and/or Zirkzee, according to Stone.
Because the journalist says if Mainoo and Zirkzee do not get significant game time with those players away then they will be the ‘most obvious’ to be allowed to leave before the February 2nd transfer deadline.
“It is during that period we will find out whether Kobbie Mainoo is going to play any meaningful amount of time,” Stone said.
“The same is also true of Joshua Zirkzee.
“Those two are the most obvious players who will leave the club – either on loan or permanently – before the transfer deadline on 2 February. If either did, the chances are replacements would be needed.”
And if Man United do let both or either leave, for West Ham or anywhere else, it would trigger incomings at Old Trafford.
“Club sources are predicting a quiet window, which may be the case,” Stone adds.
“But it will be shaped by what happens at Afcon. The last two weeks before the deadline shuts could turn out to be quite busy.”
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