West Ham United have reached an agreement to sign highly-rated teenage midfielder Mohamadou Kante from Paris FC, according to a report.
It has been a busy transfer window for the Hammers so far, with the club bringing in several new faces to improve Julen Lopetegui's senior squad ahead of the 2024-25 Premier League season.
Among the notable arrivals at the London Stadium this summer are Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo, Niclas Fullkrug, Crysencio Summerville and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
According to The Standard, Kante is now set to become the Irons' newest recruit and is expected to be handed a five-year deal once his medical is completed in the next few days.
However, Kante will not be playing for the Hammers this season, as he is set to be immediately loaned back to Paris FC in Ligue 2 for the entire 2024-25 campaign.
The 18-year-old has yet to feature for Paris FC's senior team, with all his game time coming for the club's Under-19s, where he has made 31 appearances and scored five goals so far.
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Everton 'reject' Marseille loan offer for Maupay
On the topic of loan deals, Everton have reportedly rejected a loan offer from Ligue 1 side Marseille to sign forward Neal Maupay ahead of the transfer deadline.
Roberto De Zerbi, who joined Les Phoceens after leaving Brighton & Hove Albion, is said to be looking to bring Premier League quality to his new club this summer.
The Italian manager has already secured the permanent signings of Mason Greenwood, Ismael Kone, and a loan deal for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and it seems he is now looking to bolster his attacking options further.
BBC Sport report that Everton turned down Marseille's season-long loan offer with an option to buy the French striker, who is now into the final 12 months of his current deal at Goodison Park.
It is understood that the 28-year-old forward is being pursued by the Ligue 1 side as cover for Faris Moumbagna, who sustained a serious ACL injury in their opening-day victory over Brest last weekend.
Maupay had a torrid time in Merseyside in his first season at Everton, scoring just one goal in 32 appearances across all competitions for the Toffees before he was sent on loan to Brentford last term.
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PSG midfielder 'set' to join Reims on loan
Staying in Ligue 1, Reims have reportedly reached an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain for Gabriel Moscardo to join them on loan until the end of the 2024-25 French top-flight season.
PSG had originally agreed a deal to sign the 18-year-old midfielder from Corinthians in January, but he remained in Brazil on loan until the end of the summer transfer window.
Moscardo signed a four-year deal with Les Parisiens which runs until the summer of 2028 and cost the Ligue 1 giants in the region of £24m to secure his services.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the agreement with Reims includes salary coverage and a clause that allows PSG to end the player's loan spell next January if they deem it necessary.
The report adds that Luis Enrique's side were planning on keeping the young Brazilian within their ranks this season to afford him opportunities where possible, but have decided to allow him out on loan as he is likely to accumulate more playing time at Reims.
It is understood that the 18-year-old will undergo his medical imminently and the final steps of the agreement will be concluded thereafter.
Devesh Jaganath
