West Ham are tracking the Sunderland midfielder Dan Neil but face a challenge to seal a deal this month. Sunderland are pushing for automatic promotion from the Championship and are unlikely to want to lose their captain, who also has interest from Everton. The 23-year-old is valued at about £15m. Sunderland are fourth, four points behind second-placed Sheffield United.

West Ham do not have extensive funds, with meeting the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations a factor in recruitment decisions, but have shown a willingness to invest in talent for the future.

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A deal for the 19-year-old OH Leuven midfielder Ezechiel Banzuzi is close and Graham Potter is keen to bolster his squad. West Ham’s new manager wants a centre-back, midfielder and striker.

West Ham are a potential destination for Evan Ferguson if Brighton allow the striker to leave on loan. Their strongest competition for him comes from Bournemouth but there is also interest from Fulham, Everton and Tottenham. Alternative targets for West Ham include Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz, RB Leipzig’s André Silva and Strasbourg’s Emanuel Emegha. Potter is said to have turned down the chance to sign the Chelsea defender Axel Disasi on loan.

Ipswich have signed Julio Enciso on loan from Brighton until the end of the season. The 21-year-old Paraguay international, an attacking midfielder, has made 12 Premier League appearances this season.

The Aston Villa defender Diego Carlos has joined Fenerbahce in a reported £8.45m deal. The 31-year-old made 58 appearances after joining from Sevilla in 2022 but did not feature in their past five match-day squads as plans for a move began to take shape. Fenerbahce have allowed the Brazilian playmaker Lincoln to join Hull on loan until the end of the season.