West Ham United’s attempts to sign Fikayo Tomori from Chelsea on a season-long loan deal fell through at the last minute on Monday night, as the player changed his mind over a move across London, according to Sky Sports.
The Hammers were desperately looking to add defensive reinforcements to David Moyes’ squad, with the club short of senior professionals in the centre-half role.
With a frustrating window that involved a number of potential signings falling through for one reason or another, West Ham landing Tomori would have been the addition the club needed.
The report suggests a ‘huge’ loan fee had been agreed between the clubs, only for the Chelsea man to decide 10 minutes before the window closed that he did not want to move to the Hammers, preferring to stay at Stamford Bridge.
The news will be a bitter blow for West Ham, who have been fielding Aaron Cresswell out of position in a three-man central defence in recent Premier League games.
The Hammers still have the opportunity to sign players from the Football League for another few weeks, but it remains to be seen whether the East London side can find the required quality to benefit the first-team squad.
West Ham’s board promised to strengthen the squad with the money garnered from the controversial sale of Grady Diangana to West Brom, but Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal were the only additions to the group.