A few West Ham United fans have been reacting on social media following reports the Irons are interested in a summer transfer for Nottingham Forest right-back Matty Cash.
According to The Sun and the Telegraph, the Hammers have joined Southampton and Sheffield United in being one of a handful of Premier League sides looking to offer Cash a transfer to the top-flight this summer.
West Ham are said to have scouted the 22-year-old in the past but are yet to move on their interest, while the Blades have already seen a £10million bid rejected for one of Forest’s standout players from the 2019/20 season.
Forest are reluctant to lose the young defender but have accepted they must sell at least one of their rising stars in order to stay complicit with the English Football League’s Profitability & Sustainability rules having missed out on promotion.
It is thought that an offer of £12m would be enough to prise Cash away from the City Ground, where he burst onto the scene in 2016 following good form whilst out on loan with Dagenham & Redbridge in League Two.
Southampton are seen to be showing a greater interest in a transfer than West Ham, with the Saints looking for an attacking option that can play at either full-back or on the wing when needed.
Cash featured 42 times for Forest during the recently concluded Championship season, making all but one of those outings at right-back, helped to 14 clean sheets and provided a hand in eight goals (three scored, five assisted).
The Slough-born ace started 40 of his league appearances and saw out the full 90 minutes on 39 occasions, while averaging 65.1 touches, 24.6 accurate passes (70%), 0.7 accurate crosses (18%), 2.6 tackles, 3.0 clearances, 1.4 interceptions, 6.4 ground duels won (59%), 1.8 aerial duels won (53%) and was fouled 1.0 times per game, according to Sofa Score.
But West Ham fans on social media are refusing to get carried away with the speculation linking their side with interest in a move for Cash, feeling that it is unlikely the east London outfit will meet Forest’s demands.
You know, I know, and everyone else knows that they will make a derogatory bid which will be rejected and then say “well we tried our best, we just couldn’t make it happen”
— leslie law (@lglaw8) August 2, 2020
We have No Cash for cash…
— Klaus Hove (@klaushove123) August 2, 2020
Here goes another one
— wayne norbury (@norbury_wayne) August 3, 2020
Yes we’re in, turned down £10m you say…..right, would you accept £7m, in installments……No ? We tried !!!!
— Russell Kirby (@rustyk1971) August 2, 2020
Some Irons supporters are still optimistic their side will step up with the £12m Forest are thought to be demanding, however.
Expected !! It should be a priority
— Peter Crowe (@petercrowe511) August 2, 2020
A few Hammers fans have also put forward potential ways the east London outfit can meet Forest’s asking price, with one suggesting they could offer Ryan Fredericks in a part-exchange.
Fredericks played 27 times for West Ham in the Premier League this season, making 3.0 successful tackles, 0.9 interceptions, 0.6 accurate crosses and taking 0.1 shots per game, according to WhoScored.
I’d offer Forest Fredericks https://t.co/AsGIEoX4Ck
— West Ham Central (@WestHam_Central) August 2, 2020