West Ham, Swansea confirm imminent Dede Ayew transfer

The managers of Swansea City and West Ham have confirmed that Black Stars deputy skipper, Andre Ayew is set to complete his well publicised £20 million move to the latter club.

Ayew was excluded from Swansea’s final pre-season friendly win over Stade Rennais forcing coach Francesco Gudiolin to admit that he was about to lose his talisman.

Gudiolin had previously denied receiving a bid for the Ghanaian on several occasions, but it appears he has come to terms with what seems inevitable after Swansea signed Spanish duo Fernando Llorente and Borja Baston as replacements.

“At the moment nothing is agreed, but I know there is this possibility and tomorrow or later we can understand some more,” Guidolin told the media after Sunday’s game.

His opposite number at West Ham, Slaven Bilic over the weekend confirmed that both Andre Ayew and Olympiakos left-back Arthur Masuaku were “very close” to joining the Hammers before they begin their Premier League campaign next Monday at Chelsea.

Speaking to BT Sport before West Ham’s Betway Cup 3-2 friendly defeat against Juventus at the London Stadium, Bilic said an official announcement was imminent.

“We are very close to signing a couple of players, and that’s it. When I said a few days ago that we are expecting to get five players I didn’t mean five new players – but players like Payet, Lanzini and Cresswell who are going to be back.

“We are very close to signing Andre Ayew from Swansea and we are very close to signing Arthur Masuaku, the French left back from Olympiakos. It’s almost done, but until it’s done it’s never done.

“We are trying to get quality players, but we have marquee players, Feghouli is a marquee player, Tore is a marquee player. Andre Ayew is a big time marquee player. It doesn’t have to be someone for 70 or 80 million, we can’t afford it.

“But we are close to signing a couple of them; if those two players come then, I’m quite happy with my squad.”