“West Ham’s £60M Mega-Star Signing SHOCKER: Forest’s Audacious Hijack Plot EXPOSED!”

West Ham United have had a quiet start to the summer transfer window, as the club has made it clear that no signings will be made until players are sold.

Financial limitations, mainly due to Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR), have left the Hammers in a holding pattern, watching rivals strengthen while they remain stagnant.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest approach this window with a far more optimistic outlook. The Midlands club enjoyed a stellar season, finishing seventh in the Premier League—just two points shy of qualifying for the Champions League.

Although missing out on Europe’s elite competition was a blow, Forest have set their sights on following in West Ham’s footsteps by targeting success in the UEFA Conference League next season.

Ironically, while Forest are on the rise, West Ham appear to be declining from their former high.

Once a European trophy winner themselves, the Hammers now find themselves in a role reversal with Forest, desperately seeking to recover their status among the Premier League’s top half.

The responsibility of overseeing this rebuild falls to Graham Potter, who is tasked with revitalising an underperforming West Ham side and closing the growing gap to clubs like Forest.

Central to Potter’s vision is overhauling the Hammers’ midfield—a department that has become outdated, sluggish, and lacking in synergy.

Although individually talented, many of West Ham’s current midfielders offer similar qualities and have failed to form an effective, cohesive unit. In contrast, Nottingham Forest’s midfield is dynamic, diverse, and far more balanced.

It’s no surprise then that West Ham are shifting their focus toward recruiting younger, more versatile players in the middle of the park.

That shift was evident in the club’s swift dismissal of reports linking them with Josh Brownhill, a soon-to-be free agent who will turn 30 next season.

Instead, West Ham are prioritising players with energy, athleticism, and complementary attributes.

Targets include Morten Frendrup of Genoa, Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge—who has drawn comparisons to Moises Caicedo—Mamady Diambou of RB Salzburg, Yunus Musah of AC Milan, and Anderlecht’s explosive young talent Mario Stroeykens.

Yet, one name has consistently dominated West Ham’s transfer rumours since Potter arrived: Palmeiras star Richard Rios.

The Colombian midfielder is seen as a potential game-changer who could rejuvenate the Hammers’ engine room.

His box-to-box abilities have reportedly made him a priority target for Potter, with some sources claiming Rios could “totally transform West Ham overnight.”

Initially, a move for Rios seemed highly unlikely due to his daunting £85 million release clause. With the club already stretching their financial limits, and having never spent more than £51 million on a single player (Lucas Paquetá), such a figure was seen as out of reach.

However, two major developments have since brought fresh hope to the East London side.

According to Thiago Ferri of Globo, Palmeiras are now open to selling Rios for just £25 million—a figure that puts the player well within West Ham’s financial reach, provided they can generate funds through player sales.

Ferri also confirmed that West Ham have already submitted a bid for the 25-year-old and remain seriously interested in bringing him to the London Stadium.

The problem? Nottingham Forest have entered the race too.

Reports from Give Me Sport claim that Forest are now eyeing Rios as well, describing him as a “freak athlete” and an ideal addition to their ambitious squad.

With funds readily available and European competition on offer, Forest could hold a significant advantage over West Ham in the race for Rios.

For Potter and the Hammers, missing out on such a transformative talent—especially to a domestic rival—would be a bitter pill to swallow.

At just £25 million, Rios represents not only excellent value but also a crucial opportunity to rejuvenate the club’s midfield.

Now, all eyes will be on West Ham’s ability to move players out and generate the necessary funds.

Supporters can only hope that sales materialise quickly, allowing the club to make a competitive offer and prevent Nottingham Forest from snatching the Colombia out from under their noses.