West Ham are closing in on Wout Faes as Nuno Espírito Santo attempts to patch up his defence, but he may not be their only deadline day signing.
The Leicester City centre-back is expected to undergo a medical this afternoon after the clubs reached a verbal agreement overnight.
Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri reports that a three-year contract is planned for the 28-year-old. The transfer has not yet been announced, but West Ham are expected to secure him before the clock runs out.
Faes would bring real experience to a squad undergoing major changes following relegation.
He joined Leicester from Reims in 2022 and spent the second half of last season on loan at Monaco. A return to England now looks increasingly likely, with Nuno seeking another established defender for the Championship campaign.
There is an obvious vacancy to fill.
|
Nuno’s current centre-back options |
Age |
West Ham appearances |
|
Konstantinos Mavropanos |
28 |
106 |
|
Max Kilman |
29 |
71 |
|
Ezra Mayers |
19 |
11 |
|
Kaelan Casey |
21 |
4 |
|
Airidas Golambeckis |
18 |
2 |
Axel Disasi opted for Crystal Palace instead of a return to the Hammers, while Jean-Clair Todibo has been the subject of an agreed loan move to Lens.
West Ham have already added Joel Veltman, but replacing several departing defenders was never going to be a one-player job.
The changes extend beyond the middle of the back line, too, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka joining Aston Villa on loan with an obligation to buy, while El Hadji Malick Diouf has completed a permanent move to Brentford.
Diouf’s departure is particularly relevant to the club’s next deadline day move.
West Ham submit loan bid for Roma defender Anass Salah-Eddine
According to The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas, West Ham have approached Roma with a proposal to borrow Anass Salah-Eddine for the remainder of the season.
The 24-year-old, who played for Morocco at the World Cup, offers a natural option on the left, making him a logical target alongside the pursuit of Faes.
However, the two moves are at different stages.
Thomas has reported an offer for Salah-Eddine, not an agreement between the clubs, and there is no indication what Roma or the player’s stance is on a switch to east London.
Salah-Eddine joined Roma from FC Twente in February 2025 before heading back to the Netherlands for a loan spell at PSV last summer.
The African made 25 appearances for PSV across all competitions last season, including seven in the Champions League.
That European experience gives West Ham something to consider, although adapting to the Championship would present a different challenge.
For Nuno, the attraction is straightforward: a specialist left-sided defender would provide balance and reduce the need to use somebody out of position.
A loan could also let West Ham strengthen without immediately committing the money, although the financial terms of a loan haven’t been made public yet.
The Hammers have made clear progress on Faes, but getting Salah-Eddine through the door as well would address another gap left by their summer departures.
With the deadline fast approaching, the next step is securing Roma’s approval and turning that proposal into a deal Nuno can use.