West Ham are looking to make two loan signings after opening talks with Manchester City over a deal for Kalvin Phillips and approaching Arsenal about Emile Smith Rowe.

David Moyes wants to improve the quality of his squad and is exploring the loan market. Lucas Paquetá’s calf injury has forced West Ham to look for solutions in attack and they have asked Arsenal about Smith Rowe, who has not been a regular this season.

Moyes has also been alerted to the possibility of signing Phillips. He is a huge admirer of the midfielder and tried to sign him from Leeds two years ago. City want a £7m loan fee for Phillips, who has failed to make an impact since leaving Leeds in the summer of 2022. West Ham are reluctant to pay that and are in negotiations over the fee. Phillips, who has not started a Premier League game this season, also has interest from Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Juventus, Atlético Madrid and Barcelona.

The hope is that City’s demands will lower as the transfer window draws to a close. Phillips is not part of Pep Guardiola’s plans and his place in England’s squad for Euro 2024 will be under threat if he spends the rest of the season on the sidelines. City are poised to announce the signing of the Argentinian prospect Claudio Echeverri from River Plate. Chelsea wanted the 18-year-old attacking midfielder.

Phillips would face a fight for a starting spot at West Ham, who have Edson Álvarez, Paquetá, Tomas Soucek and James Ward-Prowse as midfield options. But Paquetá, who has been playing in attack, could be out for eight weeks and Moyes could do with more depth in midfield. West Ham are out of both domestic cups but are sixth in the league and have reached the last 16 of the Europa League.

Paquetá’s injury has prompted West Ham, who are hopeful that Jarrod Bowen will be fit to face Sheffield United on Sunday, to enter the market for attacking additions. After considering Ajax’s Steven Bergwijn, Al-Ittihad’s Jota, Genk’s Joseph Paintsil and Sunderland’s Jack Clarke they have opened talks with Arsenal over Smith Rowe.

The 23-year-old, who can play wide or through the middle, has struggled with injuries and needs regular football. However Arsenal are light on cover in attack and Mikel Arteta could be reluctant to let Smith Rowe leave without a replacement coming in. Arsenal have resisted a previous attempt by West Ham to sign Reiss Nelson on loan.

“I’m really happy with Emile,” Arteta said on Friday. “He’s in the right trajectory. Now, he’s settled, he’s training really well and you know I’m not going to talk about individual situations.”

West Ham’s search for a striker has led them to target Feyenoord’s Santiago Giménez and they would be interested in a loan deal for Chelsea’s Armando Broja. Other forward options have been discussed by the recruitment department.

West Ham’s funds are limited and there is little chance of them meeting Chelsea’s demands of £50m for Broja, who is also wanted by Fulham and Wolves. But Moyes has freed up space in the budget by loaning the Germany defender Thilo Kehrer to Monaco and more money could be available if Saïd Benrahma, who is wanted by Marseille, departs. Benrahma does not have a long-term future at West Ham. Fulham are interested in the Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah.

Chelsea have recalled the Italian midfielder Cesare Casadei from Leicester. Casadei, who made 25 appearances for the Championship leaders, is expected to be part of Mauricio Pochettino’s squad. Chelsea need cover in midfield, with Roméo Lavia and Lesley Ugochukwu injured.