Sources: Major West Ham transfer twist after terms of landmark deal agreed
West Ham hopes of tying up the Gedson Fernandes deal this weekend have suffered a major blow, Football Insider has learned.
The Premier League club had hoped the Benfica midfielder could undergo a medical and put the finishing touches to an 18-month loan.
A West Ham source has told Football Insider that the Fernandes deal has been beset by fresh complications today and their hopes of signing him are now up in the air.
This comes after Football Insider first revealed on Thursday that the London club had agreed a deal in principle to sign Fernandes.
A breakthrough in negotiations had seemingly sealed a deal in which the central midfielder would join on loan until the summer of 2021 without an option to buy.
West Ham had hoped the landmark signing could be finalised by the end of the week.
But the Portugal international's representatives have also offered him to rival Premier League clubs and Tottenham and Chelsea may hijack West Ham's pursuit.
The midfielder is believed to be keen to move to play in England and his preferred destination is London for family reasons.
The east Londoners have prioritised the capture of a midfielder this month to provide competition and cover for first-choice pair Declan Rice and Mark Noble.
As reported by Football Insider, the club have also targeted Stoke City's Joe Allen and Genk's Sander Berge and bids have gone in for the pair.