Huge West Ham boost in bid to sign speed machine after £10m bid tabled - report
By Richard Parks
West Ham have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of winger Garry Rodrigues as Galatasaray are now prepared to sell him this summer and have identified a replacement, according to a report.
Football news site Turkish Football cite a source close to the Turkish giants has revealed that the club will listen to offers for the 27-year-old Cape Verde international in the upcoming transfer window.
It is said that Galatasaray have now begun hunting for Rodrigues' replacement and have identified Anderlecht star Mahmoud Hassan as a potential target.
Turkish football report that Galatasaray are seeking £15million for the wide man after West Ham had a £10million offer rejected last week.
The change of stance with Rodrigues comes after previous reports suggested the Super Lig club would try and hold on to him this summer.
Football Insider verdict
This is a major development in West Ham's pursuit of Rodrigues, but a deal is still a long way off, if the figures reported are correct. Is the left winger, who has scored seven goals and supplied nine assists in 31 appearances this season, worth £15million? That is a subject up for debate, and, certainly, one of negotiation. Rodrigues is hardly an international star, and is as yet unproven in a major European league. On top of that, his age means any potential suitors are looking at a player who should be operating at his peak. Hammers fans probably won't be falling over themselves in excitement at the prospect of signing him.