According to Sky Sports, West Ham are edging closer to signing rumoured Aston Villa transfer target Said Benrahma.

What's the word?

Reports in recent months had suggested that Dean Smith's side were very much interested in signing the Algeria international, with the club eventually bringing in his Brentford teammate, Ollie Watkins.

Now however, Sky Sports claim that personal terms between West Ham and Benrahma have all been agreed ahead of a deal set to be worth around £30m.

The report further adds that the winger had his medical at the London Stadium on Thursday, and is expected to pen a five-year deal with the Hammers as they look to secure a deal before the Friday deadline.

Major regret for Lange

Make no mistake about it, Benrahma's arrival at Villa Park would have been the icing on the cake. Smith's side have already enjoyed an incredible few weeks both on and off the pitch, landing some high-profile signings like Watkins and Emiliano Martinez, and doing the business where it matters most as well.

But missing out on Benrahma to West Ham - who finished just a place and four points above them last season in the Premier League - could come back to haunt sporting director, Johan Lange.

Benrahma and Watkins helped fire Brentford into the Championship play-off finals in the 2019/2020 campaign, and with Smith having worked with the pair of them in his time at the Bees, he would have surely been confident of rekindling that deadly partnership at Villa Park.

Instead, Villa will have to watch on as Benrahma plies his trade for David Moyes' team, and if he starts his career at the London Stadium like a house on fire, then there will surely be some rueful faces.

And in other news, Aston Villa must seize this perfect chance to get rid of one player before the transfer deadline.