Ex-West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie has slammed his former club as they reportedly close in on the £30 million signing of Brentford winger Said Benrahma. 

Sky Sports has indicated that an offer worth up to £30 million has been accepted by the Bees and that a medical could happen over the next 24 hours, once personal terms are agreed between the player and West Ham.

The Algerian has turned heads with his impressive performances over the past few seasons in the Championship and would arrive as a replacement for Felipe Anderson but remains something of a divisive signing.

West Ham academy graduate Grady Diangana was sold to West Bromwich Albion for £18 million earlier this summer and, speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie has taken aim at his former club and questioned whether Benrahma is an improvement on the 22-year-old.

He said: "Is he that different from the boy that they let go, Diangana? A player who came through the ranks at West Ham. I do not get it. I am not sure if Benrahma is that much better than Diangana.

“Only time will tell if that is good business. I would not have sold Diangana for £18million and then gone and spent £30million on a winger because I believe Diangana could have done that job.

“Whether that decision has come from David Moyes, I do not know but they needed cover on the left-side after letting Anderson go. They look like they have got that now.”

Benrahma scored 17 goals and provided 10 assists in 46 appearances for Brentford last term, helping the Bees make it to the Championship play-off final.

Diangana also spent the season in the second tier and helped West Brom secure promotion to the Premier League – grabbing eight goals and seven assists in 32 appearances.

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The Verdict

You feel McAvennie echoes the opinion of many linked to West Ham, with the decision to sell Diangana and then seemingly splash out on Benrahma proving divisive.

Even so, the arrival of the Algerian should be cause for excitement for the Hammers because he has been phenomenal in the Championship over the past few years.

It is not the 25-year-old's fault that he looks set to arrive in these circumstances and he deserves the full support of Hammers fans.