Emerson deal is back on track – and Moyes has yet more targets in sight

WEST HAM are closing on a £15million deal for Chelsea left-back Emerson after reviving talks over the transfer.

The move had collapsed over fees and personal terms but all parties are working on a compromise. West Ham will pay £12m plus a further £3m in add-ons.

Manager David Moyes is still keen to sign 30-year-old Bruges captain Hans Vanaken having offered £10m but his club are reluctant to sell. Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles has also been discussed.

The Hammers have already spent more than £110m on seven new players but the manager is determined to improve the squad further before Thursday’s transfer deadline.

They hope to complete a £50.8m deal for Lucas Paqueta, the Brazil and Lyon midfielder, following his medical today.

The Brazilian, who will sign a five-year contract, was due to fly into London yesterday evening after West Ham agreed a fee of £36.4m plus a further £14.4m in bonuses.

‘Our owners have been incredibly generous with the money they are trying to spend,’ Moyes said ahead of today’s game against Aston Villa. ‘You can see what they are trying to do now. We are in the process of building a new team.’

West Ham are bottom of the table having lost each of their opening three Premier League matches without scoring. Moyes put the frustrating start partly down to some of their signings having had a limited pre-season and not being fully match fit. ‘You want to see your new players but unless you’ve been playing in the Premier League, it is very difficult to come and hit the ground running with the speed, the intensity,’ he said.

The need for additional signings increased after West Ham qualified for the UEFA Conference League group stages last week, adding at least another six fixtures to their season.