West Ham’s opening £8million offer for Harry Arter has been rejected by Bournemouth.
David Moyes identified the Ireland international as a major target when he took over at the Hammers last month.
CLAIM YOUR FREE £20 BET Sun Bets are offering this great offer when you sign up and bet a fiver
SunSport told you this week that Moyes was willing to stretch to £15m to land the midfielder in January.
But, according to the Sunday Express, London Stadium chiefs have had a first bid of just over half that amount knocked by the Cherries.
Former Everton and Manchester United boss Moyes believes the squad he inherited from Slaven Bilic is weak across midfield.
Moyes is a long-term admirer of Arter, 27, and believes the hard-working star would add muscle to his relegation-threatened side.
PLAY DREAM TEAM WEEKENDER Pick seven players to win 10k!
He could also be an eventual successor to Mark Noble as the club’s homegrown ‘heart’.
Arter has been a key player throughout the Cherries’ Premier League stint and only signed a new four-year deal at the Vitality Stadium in July.
But he has been in and out of Eddie Howe’s first XI this season, making only 10 league starts.
And Bournemouth could be willing to let Arter leave for the right price – especially if the player expresses a desire to leave.