West Ham has rejected an £ 30 million bid for Southampton -midfielder Mateus Fernandes.
Hammers boss Graham Potter identified the 21-year-old as his top goal while he wants to strengthen his midfield for the new season.
Distressed saints have rejected West Ham's opening offer that is about half of their appreciation of the player.
It is still to be seen whether the hammers will return with an improved bid with insiders who recognize the ratings of the two clubs are very different.
Fernandes emerged as a second half replacement in the dramatic victory of Southampton on the opening day of the championship season.
West Ham reinforced their line of defense during the summer with the arrival of wing-back El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague for £ 19 million and goalkeeper Mads Hermansen from Leicester City for £ 18 million.
Getting at least one new midfielder is now the priority for Potter with the club also loves Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa.
West Ham still has to make a formal approach for the £ 40 million midfielder who revealed Daily Mail Sport, still has to be convinced by the idea of becoming a member of Villa's Premier League rivals.