Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Aleix Garcia has revealed that he received an offer from West Ham United this summer but chose to join the Bundesliga giants instead due to the chance to work with manager Xabi Alonso and the offer of Champions League football available at the club.
The Hammers were keen on recruiting the services of the Spain international following his impressive performances for Girona last term as new manager Julen Lopetegui wants to strengthen his squad upon returning to the Premier League, but Garcia moved to Leverkusen last month for around €20 million.
West Ham finished the 2023-24 Premier League campaign in 9th place, missing out entirely on European football, which did not do their chances of luring the 27-year-old to the London Stadium any good.
Girona finished third in the last La Liga campaign and will also be playing Champions League football next season, and Garcia was unwilling to leave them for a club not playing in the elite European competition.
West Ham will have to look elsewhere in their bid to strengthen their midfield ahead of the new season, but missing out on the Spaniard is a huge blow as they had a real chance to land him.
They are yet to effectively replace Declan Rice after the England international left for Arsenal last summer, and they may need to spend heavily to secure a player capable of giving them something similar to their former captain.
Getting Garcia for €20m would have been perfect for West Ham given his huge talents, and their scouting department will now have to identify other targets capable of getting the job done.
Lopetegui will be eager to impress next season in his first season in charge of the Hammers, and he needs to sort out his midfield if that is to happen.
The summer transfer window is expected to kick into gear properly after the end of the European Championship, and West Ham will be hoping to get the best deal for another defensive midfielder after missing out on the new Leverkusen man.
