Newcastle and Nottingham Forest crush West Ham’s double midfielder hopes as deals sealed

West Ham’s hopes of pulling off a double midfielder swoop have been crushed after Newcastle and Nottingham Forest sealed their own deals for the targets.The major development overnight at Newcastle and Nottingham Forest piles the pressure on what remains of the summer transfer window for West Ham.Graham Potter has made his midfield rebuild the top priority for the last knockings of the window.Unfortunately for the Hammers boss, so have the Magpies and Tricky Trees.Newcastle have been a laughing stock in the summer window this season, missing out on or being snubbed by a series of Eddie Howe’s top targets.Newcastle and Forest crush West Ham’s double midfielder hopesThat list included former West Ham star Mohammed Kudus according to reports, with the Ghanaian only wanting Spurs after his controversial sale.But it seems all Newcastle needed was to go after a top West Ham target to break their transfer hoodoo.Nottingham Forest have Europa League football to look forward to – and contend with – next season.So Nuno Espirito Santo wants to add more depth and quality to his Forest squad.Now it is West Ham who are paying the price.The east Londoners had made Aston Villa star Jacob Ramsey their top target of late.Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty ImagesSpeculation was rife the Hammers were going to sign Ramsey at the end of June as Villa looked to comply with PSR.Ramsey has fallen down the pecking order under Unai Emery and is a client of agent Will Salthouse, a close friend of West Ham chief David Sullivan and his sons.In the end Villa sold their women’s team to comply but word is they still need sales to help pay for signings – much like the Hammers themselves.West Ham have chased Ramsey for weeks and Emery put the decision in the player’s hands at the weekend by offering him a new contract.But now Newcastle and Nottingham Forest have crushed West Ham’s double midfielder hopes as deals are sealed.Newcastle swooped yesterday to agree a deal for Ramsey with a ‘here we go now imminent’ according to Fabrizio Romano.Hammers end Howe’s hoodoo as Ramsey chooses NewcastleThe transfer reporter states that an agreement is done for a £40m package with the clubs finalising the deal.Romano also reveals West Ham did make an approach to sign Ramsey but were told he only wanted Newcastle.🚨💣 Understand Newcastle are closing in on Jacob Ramsey deal with Aston Villa!Agreement almost done for £40m package as clubs are finalising the deal and then… here we go. ⚪️⚫️🔜Despite West Ham approach, Ramsey only wants Newcastle as #NUFC move is now imminent. pic.twitter.com/JNE7YABj2U— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 12, 2025 View Tweet West Ham have other midfield targets with Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes being one.The Hammers saw a bid of £30m all-in rejected by the Saints for the 21-year-old Portuguese star yesterday.Fernandes then starred and scored in Southampton’s Carabao Cup win over Northampton.It remains to be seen whether West Ham try again with Southampton wanting at least £50m.That could force Potter to consider alternatives but with the window closing in less than three weeks he is running out of options.Photo by Jon Hobley | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesEspecially after Everton beat the Hammers to Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.West Ham’s owners revealed the truth about Grealish and sent a message to David Moyes over that deal yesterday.Especially as Fernandes’ fellow Portuguese Espirito Santo has muscled in to sign another of West Ham’s midfield targets.Nuno Espirito Santo is already looking at Hammers target Omari Hutchinson, a player Potter really liked as a Kudus replacement.Now Nottingham Forest have beaten West Ham to another longstanding target, James McAtee.The Irons have been linked with a move for McAtee ever since Potter arrived at the club in January.Fernandes bid rejected as Forest beat West Ham to McAteeBut now McAtee is set to join Forest in a £20m deal despite interest from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund and West Ham.In an exclusive, Romano revealed the McAtee to Forest move would be getting his trademark ‘here we go’ confirmation imminently too.🚨🌳 EXCLUSIVE: Nottingham Forest are closing in on James McAtee deal with Manchester City!Agreement at the final stages for fee in excess of £20m, #NFFC confident to get it done… here we go, expected soon. pic.twitter.com/f2IaMqPHJF— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 11, 2025 View Tweet It is a remarkable double blow for Potter.And with West Ham lacking the funds to go all out to get Fernandes as £50m, it remains to be seen where they turn next.Although there was a positive update on West Ham’s move for Fernandes overnight.West Ham are desperately trying to offload some of their own midfielders including Edson Alvarez, Guido Rodriguez and Andy Irving in order to raise funds and clear space.The heat is now on Potter and West Ham as the most important part of his rebuild is left in tatters.