West Ham have entered into talks to acquire Southampton defender Kyle Walker-Peters, while also discussing the possibility of midfielder Flynn Downes moving in the opposite direction.
Walker-Peters, aged 27 and capped twice by England, is nearing the end of his contract at St Mary’s Stadium. Since joining Southampton from Tottenham in 2020, he has appeared in 167 games. Should the transfer proceed, he would be West Ham’s third signing of the current transfer window, following goalkeeper Wes Foderingham and Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme.
Downes, aged 25, had a successful loan spell at Southampton, contributing to their promotion to the Premier League via the Championship Play-Off final against Leeds. Talks suggest he could be part of the swap deal.
These negotiations reflect a growing trend in the Premier League towards swap deals, aimed at bolstering clubs’ financial situations amidst strict profit and sustainability regulations. Several similar deals involving Chelsea, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Leicester, and Everton have been under discussion this week. This rush to finalize deals before the June 30 accounting deadline has effectively turned it into a mini-transfer deadline day, influencing decisions regarding the sale of academy players as well.
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