Southampton are trying to get smart over a triple deal so West Ham must be ruthless and break their hearts.
When Southampton secured promotion back to the Premier League it looked like being mixed news for West Ham.
The Saints were reportedly very keen to keep Flynn Downes if they bounced back to the top flight.
That meant West Ham were in line to raise another £12-15m in vital transfer funds.
On the face of it, Southampton’s return to the big time looked like being bad news for West Ham’s interest in full-back Kyle Walker-Peters.
But given their previous interest in Hammers forward Danny Ings, Southampton’s promotion also made it more likely West Ham could offload the flop striker back to his old club.
There was a twist when West Ham – in search of a versatile full-back – used Saints’ interest in Downes to start brokering a move for Walker-Peters.
Hammers and Saints hold talks over triple deal
Those deals looked on a week or so ago.
They have stalled, though, with reports now claiming Southampton want more money from West Ham for Walker-Peters – who is in the last year of his deal.
Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has told Give Me Sport that talks between West Ham and Southampton ‘have highlighted a gap in valuation’.
Not only are Saints trying to squeeze more cash out of the Hammers, they reportedly submitted a £6m bid for Ings which required West Ham to subsidise some of his wages too.
It seems Southampton have been emboldened in their demands for more money for Walker-Peters by apparent interest from his old club Spurs.
But if Saints are trying to get smart over this triple deal then West Ham must break their hearts.
Saints trying to get smart so West Ham must break their hearts
Downes has looked happy as Larry being back in training at his boyhood club West Ham.
In fact it’s like he’s never been away as he features prominently in club videos and pictures after his return to Rush Green.
With the man who didn’t give him the game time he craves gone, some have suggested Downes could have a new lease of life at West Ham under Julen Lopetegui.
If Southampton want to try and be clever over Walker-Peters and Ings, then West Ham should tell the south coast club they can forget signing Downes.
At the same time, the Hammers should ditch Walker-Peters and go for Aaron Wan-Bissaka at Man United instead.
Sheth recently confirmed West Ham still have an interest in Wan-Bissaka, who Lopetegui tried to sign at Wolves.
Keep Downes or sell to Ipswich and sign Wan-Bissaka instead
To rub salt in the wound, if Lopetegui doesn’t see Downes as part of his plans then West Ham could sell the midfielder to his old club Ipswich – who are also said to be seriously interested – instead of Southampton.
That will teach Southampton a harsh transfer market lesson.
And you can bet your bottom dollar the Saints hierarchy will soon come to more sensible agreements with the Hammers if Tim Steidten takes that ruthless approach.
If not, then there is little to be lost for West Ham in going for Wan-Bissaka instead.
The Manchester United defender has already said his goodbyes at Old Trafford and is reportedly available for just £13m.
Wan-Bissaka is regarded as one of the best defensive full-backs in the Premier League.
Southampton must stump up the cash for Downes and Ings and let Walker-Peters go for a reasonable price.
Or West Ham should tell them they can forget any of the three deals and press ahead with alternative plans.