Carlos Soler has chosen his next destination, with a deal set to be completed by Monday following a whirlwind of late developments. West Ham United and Everton have both been vying for the Spanish midfielder, but recent updates suggest that Soler is poised to join the Hammers.
West Ham have been working diligently to offload players in a bid to facilitate the signing of Soler. The club’s efforts to clear the decks, however, have been complicated by Everton’s sudden interest. The Toffees seized the opportunity presented by West Ham’s struggles by putting forward a strong bid for the 27-year-old.
Everton, under manager Sean Dyche, proposed a straight cash offer for Soler, which appeared more attractive to Paris Saint-Germain compared to West Ham’s loan arrangement with an obligation to buy.
This initial advantage saw Everton briefly move ahead in the race for Soler’s signature. However, a crucial development on Friday tipped the scales back in West Ham’s favour.
Soler’s absence from PSG’s squad for their 6-0 victory over Montpellier was a significant indicator of a looming transfer. Fabrizio Romano later confirmed that Soler had expressed a clear preference to join West Ham, with the deal expected to be finalised by Monday.
Romano reported that West Ham’s technical director, Tim Steidten, and manager Julen Lopetegui had been pushing hard to secure the signing, despite Everton’s late bid.
According to Romano, “Carlos Soler’s priority is West Ham as director Tim Steidten and manager Lopetegui are pushing a lot. Negotiations are ongoing with PSG in order to get the deal done, but West Ham also need to complete outgoings. Despite other clubs keen, West Ham are leading the race.”
Diario AS has since reported that West Ham have overcome the late challenge from Everton. The deal is now expected to be concluded with a loan agreement including an obligatory purchase, with finalisation anticipated by Monday at the latest.
The report notes that, “The English club is finalising an agreement with PSG to close the signing. The Spaniard will be a ‘hammer’ through a transfer this year or through a loan with an obligatory purchase.”
The Spanish outlet further revealed that West Ham are weighing up whether to complete the transfer through a direct purchase or a loan with an obligation to buy for €20 million (£17 million) next season.
“According to AS, the English club and PSG are currently finalising negotiations, which they hope to close by next Monday at the latest,” the report stated.
Soler’s departure from PSG comes after a season of intermittent appearances. Despite his talent, the midfielder struggled to secure consistent game time, which is critical at a club like PSG where the pressure to perform is relentless.
His versatility in both attacking and defensive midfield roles makes him a valuable asset, and he would have been an excellent addition to either West Ham or Everton.
While Everton might have offered more guaranteed game time, West Ham’s appeal lies in their current stability and European ambitions. The London club’s better positioning, combined with the allure of working under Lopetegui, has evidently been decisive in Soler’s decision to join the Hammers.