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West Ham in four-way battle for international midfielder with Championship pedigree West Ham are among a number of Championship sides poised to do battle for a player who thrived at the same level last term West Ham United are among four clubs in the mix for Jordan James, it has been claimed. The Wales midfielder impressed in the Championship last season with Leicester City. The Hammers aren't the only team in the mix for the 22-year-old. Wolves, Middlesbrough and Burnley have also been linked with a player who bagged 11 goals last term in the second tier. Leicester's relegation ended any hopes they might have had of a permanent move. The Welsh international is now back at Rennes, who are reportedly ready to sanction a permanent exit. JOIN US ON FB! Get the latest football news from Football London’s Facebook page James cost Rennes around £4m from Birmingham City. Despite his challenging first year in France, he's expected to fetch a fee of more than £10m. According to Alan Nixon, Wolves are desperate to add the Welshman after an eventful summer during which Joao Gomes left for Aston Villa. West Ham are also in search of midfield reinforcements, though, having sold Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham. James returned to parent club Rennes after Leicester's relegation but his future in France looks increasingly doubtful. The midfielder moved to Rennes from Birmingham City in 2024 after progressing through the Blues' academy and has since become a key figure at international level with Wales even amid changes in his club career. Sky's Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle includes at least 215 live Premier League clashes across the 2026/27 season, with more than 1,500 games from the EFL and beyond, plus F1, golf and darts. This introductory offer saves £384 compared to the standard price, with every package also providing 100 regular channels alongside free Netflix and discovery+ subscriptions. West Ham's interest comes as the Hammers aim to secure an immediate return to the Premier League. They started their campaign with a 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Portsmouth, with Taty Castellanos scoring twice. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo is believed to be eager to bolster his midfield options, having also sold Freddie Potts to club Brugge. Youngsters Mohamadou Kante and Lewis Orford made their first senior starts for the club against Portsmouth, while Edson Alvarez also returned to the starting XI after spending last season out on loan. James' capacity to score goals from midfield would make him an appealing prospect, especially considering his displays for Leicester last season. West Ham are currently without Tomas Soucek, another player capable of contributing in front of goal, after he suffered a serious injury on World Cup duty.