Sources: New Everton star Amadou Onana tells friends his West Ham transfer plan
New Everton signing Amadou Onana’s first choice was to sign for West Ham this summer, sources have told Football Insider.
The Merseysiders completed the capture of the midfielder, 20, from Lille on Tuesday in a £33million deal.
West Ham had also had a bid for Onana accepted by the French club as they looked to win the battle of the Premier League clubs trying to sign him.
It is believed the central midfielder’s preference was to join the London club following their transformation under David Moyes.
But West Ham refused to guarantee Onana a starting role, in a midfield where Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek have been virtual untouchables in the previous two seasons.
By contrast, Everton made clear to the Belgium international that he would be a regular starter from the off in their side.
That made up the mind of Onana, who is desperate to be selected for Belgium’s World Cup squad later this year and knows that could be in doubt if he is not playing regularly for his club.
The Senegal-born Onana was given his Belgium debut against Holland in June by former Everton manager Roberto Martinez.
West Ham viewed the central midfielder as a long-term replacement for Rice, who is expected to leave next year.
Onana is Everton’s fifth summer signing following the arrivals of Conor Coady, Dwight McNeil, Ruben Vinagre and James Tarkowski.
He has signed a five-year contract at Goodison Park.
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