West Ham sanction triple exits for Fornals, Benrahma & Cornet

West Ham United have given the green light for Spanish winger Pablo Fornals to leave the club in one of three deadline-day exits the Hammers have lined up.

Sky Sports reveals that the East Londoners have reached an agreement with La Liga side Real Betis ahead of Fornals’ reunion with former West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini.

Pellegrini was behind Fornals’ move to West Ham in the summer of 2019 while he was in the Hammers dugout and will relish the chance to work with the out-of-favour attacker at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

Real Betis and West Ham have struck an agreement worth around £7 million, although there may be a twist to the tale amid reports that Fornals is at London Stadium ahead of the Hammers game against Bournemouth this evening.

Fornals, who is adept at featuring in a number of roles, including central midfield, has featured 23 times in all competitions for David Moyes’ side this season.

He has failed to return a goal contribution thus far, although the majority of his first team minutes have come from cameo appearances.

The arrivals of Edson Alvares, James Ward-Prowse, and Mohamed Kudus has pushed him down the pecking order, opening the door for Pellegrini and Betis to pounce.

Said Benrahma is also poised to follow Fornals through the London Stadium exit, having agreed a deal to join Ligue 1 relegation battlers Olympique Lyon.

The former Brentford man will join Lyon on loan for the remainder of the season while the French side retains an option for a permanent purchase.

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Lyon and West Ham have agreed on a loan fee worth €5m with an option to buy for around €12m at the end of the season.

The versatile Maxwel Cornet is the last of the trio expected to leave West Ham ahead of tonight’s deadline, although a deal is contingent on West Ham signing a replacement.

Losing three forwards without the prospect of a replacement will undoubtedly hurt the Hammers’ chances of securing a place in Europe this season.