West Ham have agreed a deal with Southampton over the sale of Flynn Downes, it has been reported.

The Saints had made signing Downes a key priority this summer following his successful loan spell last season, and its now understood a deal has been struck for the player to head to the south coast on a permanent basis.

As has since been reported by ExWHUEmployee, the fee for Downes to the Saints is understood to be £18m, and the agreement is now set to create a ‘domino effect’, with talks for right-back Kyle Walker-Peters set to intensify.

Downes spent last season with Southampton, and helped the club gain promotion back to the Premier League, and they made no secret of their desire to sign the player on a permanent deal.

Although Downes is a West Ham fan and was eager to impress in east London, the lack of guarantee of first team football played a significant part in his decision to move to the coast, where he is expected to play a leading role in their side.

West Ham will now continue to do business this summer, with Walker-Peters talks now likely to pick up pace as we look to strike a deal. Although Ex has said the club will turn attentions to Aaron Wan-Bissaka should a price for the Southampton defender not be agreed.