West Ham hit £120k-a-week problem as Nuno favourite is ‘unlikely’ to accept a pay cut

Progress has been swift in West Ham United’s pursuit of centre-forward duo Pablo and Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos. An agreement with Premier League rivals Fulham regarding Adama Traore, though, may be more difficult than initially expected.

The ex-Barcelona speedster was supposed to be the first signing of the Nuno Espirito Santo era at the London Stadium.

A rather fitting one, too, given that it was under Nuno at Wolves where Adama Traore blossomed into a winger so fearsome that not even Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp had an answer to his extraordinary acceleration and baby-oil brawn.

Spanish publication Diario AS even reported on New Year’s Eve that Traore was set to leave Fulham and join West Ham United on an initial six-month deal, with an option to extend that contract by a further two years.

Few would have imagined, when those reports, emerged that Pablo and Castellanos could pip Traore to the post. Both deals have gone into overdrive in the last 48 hours, though. From zero to 60 in the blink of an eye.

Gil Vicente hotshot Pablo arrived in London on Thursday, per club insider ExWHUEmployee. Castellanos, an impending £27 million arrival from Lazio, will not be too far behind.

As for Traore, reporter Duncan Castles believes there is still a sizeable financial obstacle that must be overcome.

West Ham United face wage issue with Fulham winger Adama Traore

Castles, speaking on the Transfer Window podcast, was not referring to the rather minimal gap between West Ham’s opening offer and Fulham’s asking price.

Hammers News have been told that Fulham rejected an opening bid of £3.5 million. Marco Silva’s side are holding out for £5 million.

Rather, it is a matter of wages which could keep an agreement on ice.

“I think that the most complicated part of the deal, given that he’s essentially out of the squad at Fulham at present, is going to be his wages,” says Castles. “He’s on a contract that pays him £120,000 a week at Fulham, one of the highest paid players at the club.

“I’m told it’s unlikely he will be prepared to take a cut in his wages to move to West Ham, so they’ve got a decision to make there.”

Traore will be a free-agent come July.

At the age of 29, and considering that he may be more of a squad depth signing than one capable of strolling straight into Nuno’s XI, it seems highly unlikely that West Ham would be willing to fork out £120,000-a-week.

Especially at a time in which the club appear to be making a concerted effort to reduce their wage bill.

James Ward-Prowse and Guido Rodriguez, two of the club’s highest earners, look set to follow Niclas Fullkrug out the door at some point this year.

Per Capology, if Traore was handed a £120,000-a-week deal in East London, that would put him joint third on the wage bill, level with Alphonse Areola and behind captain Jarrod Bowen and Brazil number ten Lucas Paqueta.

Marco Silva would not be drawn on potential Traore sale

The ball, then, is very much in Traore’s court. If he wants to extend his Premier League career, and reunite with the manager where he produced the most consistent football of his career, well that will come with a financial sacrifice.

What CHANGES would you make to West Ham’s XI away to Wolves?

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For now, Marco Silva insists that Traore will remain in Fulham’s plans until a solution is found.

“Adama is working, like the others. He’s been involved in the preparation for the last [few] games and will be involved again,” Silva said this week, via the Hounslow Herald.

“Right now, no [there is nothing to officially announce].

“It’s been a very busy period and I’m going to repeat the same thing again; When it’s something new to announce, the club is going to announce to you.”

According to The Sun, Fulham hope to delay Traore’s departure for another couple of weeks as they await the return of Samu Chukwueze from the Africa Cup of Nations.