West Ham ‘Tried Everything’ Including ‘New Offer’ But Target Going Elsewhere | OneFootball

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West Ham United ‘tried everything to get ahead’ in the race for a defender and made ‘a new offer’, but they have lost out.

Graham Potter is keen to make additions over the coming weeks and months as he bids to make his mark on the squad at the London Stadium.

Strengthening defensively is a target and cash is likely to come in from a number of departures, with Nayef Aguerd attracting real interest.

Potter wanted to win the race for Burnley defender CJ Egan-Riley, who is out of contract this summer and has been looking at his options.

Marseille have been in pole position for the defender and he is now going to the French side on a four-year contract, according to French journalist Fabrice Hawkins.

That is despite West Ham having made a last desperate bid to get ahead of Marseille by putting a new offer to the player.

The Hammers were determined to do all they could to divert Egan-Riley from Marseille, but they have failed.

It is claimed that the defender was ‘seduced’ by Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi and the club’s sporting director Medhi Benatia.

Egan-Riley was won over by the project at the Stade Velodrome and had already been doing his homework on the move.

Moving to Marseille will also hand him the chance to play in the Champions League next season and ultimately West Ham could not compete with the French giants.

Egan-Riley has shown he is not afraid to go abroad before and had a loan spell at PSV Eindhoven in 2024.

He was part of a superb Burnley defence in the Championship last term as the Clarets conceded just 16 goals.

Now West Ham will have to look elsewhere, with the chance to sign the defender on a free transfer following the end of his Burnley deal having slipped through their fingers.