Said Benrahma is set to join Lyon before Thursday's transfer deadline, but Pablo Fornals risks being denied a return to Spain if West Ham cannot sign a replacement in time.
West Ham have accepted an offer for Lyon to take Benrahma on loan for the remainder of the season, with an obligation to make the switch permanent in the summer in a deal that would be worth about £15million.
The Algerian has fallen out of favour and his sending off at Bristol City earlier this month now looks likely to be his final act in a Hammers shirt, so long as he gives the green light to the Lyon move.
Fornals, meanwhile, has been the subject of interest from Real Betis, after West Ham signalled they would be open to offers for the Spaniard.
Betis, managed by former Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini, have seen an initial bid rejected and are expected to return with a second offer, but there is no guarantee West Ham will sanction his departure now that moves for Ibrahim Osman and Jota have stalled.
Negotiations have been ongoing with Danish club FC Nordsjaelland over winger Osman, while tax issues mean hopes of signing forward Jota on loan from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad are all but dead.
