Revealed: West Ham scrap plans to sign centre-back, he's in talks to join Crystal Palace
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Revealed: West Ham scrap plans to sign centre-back, he's in talks to join Crystal Palace

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

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EXCLUSIVE By Wayne Veysey

West Ham have scrapped plans to sign Gary Cahill and he's now in talks to sign for Crystal Palace, Football Insider can reveal.

The Hammers had lined up the 61-times England international as an alternative if their other centre-back targets in the final days of the window could not be signed.

But a West Ham source has told Football Insider the club have pulled the plug on their Cahill pursuit as they are on the verge of sealing a deal for Boavista centre-back Goncalo Cardoso.

As revealed by Football Insider early today, the Londoners have had a £3million bid for Cardoso accepted by the Portugese outfit and he is headed to England to undergo a medical and put the finishing touches to the transfer.

The Portugese 18-year-old is set to go straight into Manuel Pellegrini's senior squad and compete for a back-up centre-back role alongside Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna.

The Hammers are expected to start Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena in the centre of their defence for this weekend's Premier League opener against Manchester City.

Cardoso's arrival will bring to an end the club's summer defensive reinforcements and will allow Cahill to continue negotiations to move to their London rivals Palace.

Roy Hodgson's side are in the market for a new centre-back and are convinced the 33-year-old fits the bill given his extensive Premier League and international experience.

In other West Ham news, it can be REVEALED that the club are sweating over the fitness of four senior stars ahead of their Premier League opener.

West Ham United
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