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Rumour Reel: Hammers making raids on Bournemouth and Newcastle?

| 17.05.2016
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | May 17, 2016

West Ham United are set to spend big this summer to accompany their move to the Olympic Stadium and, while they have already secured the signing of ex-Arsenal and Norway defensive player Havard Nordtveit on a free transfer, other arrivals should follow.

Hammers hope to pinch a couple of Cherries

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - AFC Bournemouth v Sunderland - Vitality Stadium

Tuesday’s tabloids and reports online link the Hammers with Bournemouth attacking duo Matt Ritchie and Callum Wilson. It is rumoured a joint £25m bid for the Scotland winger and former England Under-21 forward has been knocked back by the Cherries, who are reluctant to sell their star turns.

Wilson, 24, missed much of Bournemouth’s maiden Premier League campaign due to serious injury, but still managed to score five top-flight goals before sustaining it.

It is understood that West Ham’s interest in Ritchie, 26, has arisen because no deal is in place on making the loan move for Chelsea and Nigeria wideman Victor Moses permanent.

Townsend to be torn away from Toon Army?

Newcastle United v Crystal Palace - Barclays Premier League - St James' Park

As apparent interest in the Cherries pair has been rejected, the Hammers hierarchy may instead switch to alternative targets.

These are believed to include Newcastle United’s Andros Townsend – named in the preliminary England squad for Euro 2016 – and Netherlands midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.

Winger Townsend, 24, may have an £8m relegation release clause in his Magpies contract, having only just arrived at St James’ Park during the winter window.

West Ham watching Wijnaldum too

Britain Soccer Premier League

Dutch forward-thinking midfielder Wijnaldum, 25, meanwhile, was Newcastle’s top scorer in a dismal campaign that ended in them losing top-flight status.

Netting 11 times, including a memorable four-goal haul against fellow relegated side Norwich City, Wijnaldum’s goals were not enough to save the Tyneside team from relegation.

Wijnaldum may also be available to West Ham for a cut-price fee. See who else might be worth poaching from relegated Premier League sides.

Portugal trio scouted by Red Devils

Portuguese League Football - Sporting Vs V. Setbal - Lisbon

Mining Portugal for talented players has proved a rich vein for Manchester United in the past, and it seems they are prepared to go down that route again, as they have once again had Sporting Lisbon midfield duo William Carvalho and Joao Mario scouted.

Sporting lost out to Lisbon rivals Benfica in the Primeira Liga title race on the final day of the Portuguese season, and both engine room operators are expected to be in national coach Fernando Santos’ Euro 2016 squad.

Joining them on international duty should be Valencia midfielder Andre Gomes, but any interest United hold in him may be dead because of rumours strongly linking the 22-year-old to Italian Serie A champions Juventus.

Gunners tempted by Bhoys breakthrough Tierney

Soccer - Scottish Premiership - Dundee v Celtic - Dens Park

And finally, Premier League runners-up Arsenal are mulling over a £10m offer for Celtic’s teenage left back Kieran Tierney.

Capped by Scotland in the spring, Isle Of Man native Tierney has become one of the Bhoys’ hottest properties and the Parkhead hierarchy must brace themselves for interest like this from south of the border.

Tierney, 18, was voted the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year this season by his peers, and is expected to have a big future if building on a hugely encouraging debut term.

Related

With the summer soon upon us, Coral’s Rumour Reel is back in full swing, so check out other editions to ensure you don’t miss any major gossip.

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Author

Jamie Clark

Athletics aficionado, die-hard snooker fan and Crystal Palace supporter Jamie has written for Coral since February 2014 after spells with Soccerlens and the Press Association as a digital journalist and copywriter. A former East Midlands sports correspondent and Bwin tipster, he is a graduate of both the University of York and University of Sheffield, with a Masters in web journalism from the latter.