WEST HAM made one final bid for Leeds and England star Kalvin Phillips on deadline day.
Hammers negotiator Karren Brady contacted old ally Angus Kinnear at Elland Road, willing to increase their record £50million offer.
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The Londoners were prepared to go to £55m for the midfield dynamo they wanted to team up with pal Declan Rice.
Hammers insiders say the move started after the clubs met three weeks ago.
But chances were hit by Leeds’ defeat to Newcastle.
The 1-0 loss left them still in relegation trouble and reluctant to lose talisman Phillips, 26.
Phillips is also a target for Manchester United with the Red Devils desperate to sign a new central midfielder this summer.
Hammers talisman – and Phillips’ England midfielder partner – Rice is also on United’s radar.
But David Moyes has warned he would cost upwards of £100m.
The Hammers boss said: “You will need humongous money to get close.
“I said in the summer that I thought Declan Rice was £100m. That was your chance to get him cheap. You can make your mind up over what I’m talking about now.
“I feel his commitment. He’s under contract and we’re really pleased to have him. He’s here for certainly a few years.
“He’s like a special edition Declan Rice, there’s not many like him.
“He’s arguably playing as well as any midfielder in European football, and the prices were expensive in January weren’t they?”
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