The Sky Sports journalist has reported via X on 16 July that the announcement could even come within the next 24 hours.
Downes is now finalising his contract at St Mary’s after spending last season on loan to help them back into the Premier League.
West Ham United ready new Flynn Downes transfer
West Ham have undergone many changes throughout the summer window thus far and will no doubt be dipping their their toes back into the transfer market again.
Max Kilman has already arrived to help sure up their defensive line and will no doubt help the Hammers improve their league standing next season.
Julen Lopetegui’s midfield is arguably the strongest area of his team so a move for Downes makes sense.
The transfer is reported to be worth around £18m [Sheth, 15 July] and could help sweeten the deal for Kyle Walker-Peters should the London-based club make a bid for the right-back.
Although Downes would have been a solid addition to the team, it’s unlikely that he’d have played week in and week out over the likes of Tomas Soucek and Edson Alvarez
The fact that he’s moving to the Saints also makes a lot of sense as Russell Martin said in an interview last week that he’d “cry himself to sleep” [Daily Echo, 13 July] if Southampton didn’t manage to acquire his services.
All in all, this is a good deal for all parties and will no doubt help towards West Ham’s rebuild.
West Ham are certainly getting deals done in the current summer transfer window.
Luis Guilherme and Max Kilman are just two big names that the Hammers have already secured, whilst there appears to be almost daily updates as far as players that the East London outfit retain an interest in.
Of course, there will be those players that need to be sold to balance up the books, and one of those is talented defensive midfielder, Flynn Downes.
West Ham sell Flynn Downes to Southampton for £18m
According to The Standard, Downes, 25, who spent last season on loan at Southampton, has secured a permanent move to the Premier League new boys for £18m.
That might be seen as a strategic move by the Irons, as they are apparently also in talks with the Saints for Kyle Walker-Peters, who only has 12 months left on his current deal.
Further, The Standard also note an interest in Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson, and cashing in on Downes could help Tim Steidten land both players for Julen Lopetegui.
There does appear to be a shift in the way West Ham are operating this summer when compared with previous windows.
They’re clearly not being gung-ho about their signings, whilst also ensuring that they remain in the conversation for those players that have been identified as potential new recruits.
The style of play is set to be markedly different from the past few seasons too, as Lopetegui prefers a front-foot attacking style, rather than the defensive set up employed by his predecessor, David Moyes.
If the Hammers can land either of their next two targets thanks to the Downes sale, then it will have been a worthwhile exercise for all concerned.
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