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West Ham are encountering significant hurdles in the transfer market, with their plans being disrupted by Youssouf Fofana's preference for joining AC Milan over the London club.
The French international, who boasts 21 caps, has a £30million price tag set by his current club, Monaco.
Despite being tracked by West Ham for the past 12 months, Fofana's inclination towards AC Milan has left West Ham's recruitment efforts in a challenging position, according to reports from GiveMeSport.
West Ham's technical director, Tim Steidten, has been leading the charge in bolstering the squad ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
However, the club have faced difficulties in securing key transfers. One notable setback was the failed acquisition of Al-Ittihad's N'Golo Kante, after a £15million bid was rejected, leaving the midfielder out of reach for West Ham.
The Hammers have managed to make some progress in the transfer market, with their most expensive signing so far being Max Kilman.
The defender was acquired from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a substantial £40million.
Additionally, personal terms have been agreed with Aston Villa's Jhon Duran, although the transfer has yet to be finalised.
Under the new management of Julen Lopetegui, West Ham have been active in the market, aiming to strengthen their squad before the transfer window deadline on August 30.
The team's preparations are also focused on their Premier League opener against Aston Villa on August 17.
Meanwhile, AC Milan are also facing challenges in their pursuit of Fofana, as they struggle to meet Monaco's financial demands.
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