Besiktas in talks to sign West Ham United duo Alphonse Areola and Tomas Soucek

Besiktas are in talks to sign West Ham United goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and midfielder Tomas Soucek this window, according to French outlet Foot Mercato. The 16-time Super Lig champions want to strengthen their squad for a title charge and have identified the West Ham duo. Areola has made 20 appearances for the Hammers this season but could find himself on the bench as West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo wants Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky to replace him.

Soucek has played 22 times this term, starting ten times, and it remains to be seen if he will be open to a mid-season departure. The Czech Republic international started and finished in the back-to-back Premier League victories against Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland. Soucek was key to those wins and Nuno is unlikely to be open to losing him right now as he eyes escaping relegation.

The 30-year-old and Areola are out of contract in the summer of 2027, and while extending their deals may not be in West Ham’s plans, the club could opt to wait until the end of the season before agreeing to sell them. The Hammers cannot afford to lose key players right now, and they will prefer to make more quality signings than sanction sales in the days leading to the winter transfer deadline.