West Ham United are in advanced talks with AC Milan over the potential signing of Alexis Saelemaekers, according to Calciomercato. The Serie A club is willing to let the Belgian midfielder go, but is holding out for their asking price of £16.8 million.

The negotiations have been ongoing for several days, with Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, and Ipswich Town also showing interest in Saelemaekers. Official offers are expected to be made early next week, highlighting the intense competition for the 22-year-old’s signature.

West Ham’s pursuit of Saelemaekers reflects their proactive approach to strengthening their attacking options ahead of the new season. Despite already signing Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras, the club is concerned about the futures of key forwards Michail Antonio and Danny Ings, while Maxwel Cornet’s status remains uncertain.

Saelemaekers offers an intriguing prospect for West Ham, given his versatility across multiple attacking positions. He can play on the wing, as a number ten, or even centrally, and his left-footed skills provide additional tactical flexibility. At £16.8 million, Saelemaekers brings not only Champions League experience but also international pedigree, making him a valuable addition at a relatively modest cost in today’s transfer market.

Securing Saelemaekers would be a coup for West Ham, who are keen to strengthen their squad depth as they prepare for a challenging campaign ahead. The club’s proactive stance in the transfer market has also attracted interest from a two-time league champion eager for a move to London, further highlighting West Ham’s ambition to build on recent successes.