West Ham Prepare Improved Offers for Attacking Pair as Bilic Pushes Forward With Key Targets
West Ham United are poised to make improved offers for two of their top transfer targets before the January transfer window slams shut next week.
The Telegraph reports that the Hammers are ready to return to Hull City with a new £8m bid for Robert Snodgrass, while the club also remain hopeful of tempting Brentford to part ways with striker Scott Hogan for around £15m.
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has been rebuffed in his advances for the pair so far in the winter window, but the promise of more money for the duo could see their respective sides enticed into accepting the increased bids and sanction deals for the pair.
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - APRIL 30: Scott Hogan of Brentford celebrates during the Sky Bet Championship match between Brentford and Fulham at Griffin Park on April 30, 2016 in Brentford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty Images)
Harry Murphy/GettyImages
Snodgrass was left out of Hull's 18-man matchday squad for the trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea at the weekend, fuelling speculation that the Humberside club's top goalscorer was edging closer to the exit door.
Hull manager Marco Silva told reporters, in the wake of his side's 1-0 defeat to the Blues, that Snodgrass was nursing a knee complaint, but would speak to both the player and the club's board about any impending transfer plans.
He said: “The player was not available for the game. About the proposals, I don't know anything new on this. I'll speak with the player again and we'll see.
“I hope the player stays with us. I hope he is available. We'll see if he starts to train again with us or not. A small injury in the knee, nothing special. But he had some problems in the past with his knee. Nothing special.”
West Ham had hoped their opening offer of £6m would be enough to open negotiations with Hull but, with the Tigers holding out for around £10m, the Irons have had to up their bid in an effort to bring the Scotland international to the London stadium. The loan signing of Liverpool winger Lazar Markovic could also now pave the way for a deal to finally be struck.
Hogan, meanwhile has been on West Ham's radar for a number of weeks, but Brentford have so far resisted the Hammers' advances for their star forward.
Like Snodgrass, Hogan was not involved in his side's game last weekend as rumours about his future with the Bees continued to grow, but Brentford have turned down £10m and £12.5m offers from West Ham for the 14-goal striker in the hope of raking in more cash for the 24-year-old.
A bid of £15m is the ballpark figure that the Hammers will have to meet if Brentford are to allow them to speak to Hogan and, providing West Ham's board sanctions such a bid, he could be a West Ham player before the window shuts.
Dimitri Payet's proposed move to Marseille could also be completed before January 31 if the Ligue 1 side return with a reported £25.7m bid for the wantaway star.
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