Confirmed: West Ham close in on landmark double transfer deal

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Published on:

13 Jun 2016, 9:12 am

By Tom Blackburn

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has announced he wants to sign Besiktas pair Atiba Hutchinson and Gokhan Tore in a landmark double deal.

Football Insider reported on Sunday night that the Hammers were on the verge of signing Tore for £13million, and Bilic has now confirmed that he is one of two targets from the Turkish club.

The right-winger has been a key player for Besiktas since his 2014 transfer from Rubin Kazan, scoring 15 goals and supplying 20 assists from the right-side.

Canada international Hutchinson, 33, has been playing as a holding midfielder or right-back for Turkish champions Besiktas after establishing himself under Bilic.

Bilic worked with the pair when he managed Besiktas before moving to West Ham last summer, and Sky Sports reported he told Turkish TV: "Yes, I want Gokhan Tore and Atiba Hutchinson, they are targets. We also have others but they are major targets.

"Will it happen? Nobody can say yet but we want them.

"I want one transfer for both of the players. More than one thing has to happen for this deal. When a club wants a player it depends on how much [Besiktas] want to sell a player and how much they are asking.

"There is a lot written in the Turkish press that is untrue. But I know them [Tore and Hutchinson], I spent two years with them."

Hutchinson signed for the Turkish outfit on a free from PSV in 2013, and played 34 times in the Super Liga this season in which he scored twice and provided a further two assists.

West Ham chiefs have made it publicly clear on a number of occasions in recent weeks that the club intend to reinforce their squad with at least six senior signings this summer as they aim to give Slaven Bilic an even stronger squad next season.

In other West Ham news, they are ready to launch a bid for a £63million Barcelona ace.

West Ham United

Slaven Bilic

Gokhan Tore