It’s all systems go for West Ham as a major new striker claim emerges from Spain which suggests a deal is very much in the offing.
West Ham look to be edging closer to land Julen Lopetegui’s prime striker target.
David Moyes was convinced otherwise, but there is plenty of striker talent out there in the transfer market for West Ham.
The Hammers have been linked with Dominic Solanke, Ivan Toney, Serhou Guirassy, Armando Broja and Victor Boniface to name but a few.
West Ham certainly need a new top class forward.
Moyes sold both Sebastien Haller and Gianluca Scamacca while the signing of Danny Ings has proved a waste of everyone’s time.
But technical director Tim Steidten has full control of West Ham’s recruitment now Moyes has left.
Steidten wants to disprove Moyes myth
And the German is determined to show there is talent out there he can bring to the London Stadium.
In fact Steidten has made signing a striker for new head coach Lopetegui one of his top priorities.
Last month Hammers News exclusively revealed that Youssef En-Nesyri was the striker name on a list of targets Lopetegui handed to West Ham when being interviewed.
Spanish publication El Mira claimed last week that the Hammers can sign the Sevilla forward for just £17m this summer.
Better still the report also stated the Moroccan wants to move to the London Stadium and Sevilla are under serious pressure to sell by the end of June to avoid financial sanctions.
Last week En-Nesyri was seen saying his goodbyes to Sevilla with reports claiming he is West Ham bound.
With Steidten working on deals over in Brazil it has gone quiet on the En-Nesyri front since, though.
Until now.
Major new En-Nesyri claim emerges from Spain
It’s all systems go for West Ham as a major new striker claim emerges from Spain.
According to Marca on Sunday, En-Nesyri will definitely be sold for 20m Euros (£17m) because Sevilla need the money, as previously stated, by the end of the month.
And West Ham are favourites to land him ahead of Saudi Arabian suitors with Lopetegui pushing for a reunion with En-Nesyri, who played some of his best football under the new Hammers boss at Sevilla.
“Sevilla will say goodbye to its top scorer in the last five years in exchange for covering up a disastrous economy,” Marca reports.
“En-Nesyri has one year left on his contract at Sevilla…
“There are two exit possibilities right now: to the Premier, with Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham on the court; or Arab football, where the competitiveness is less, but he can receive a significant salary and feel more comfortable in that cultural environment, since En-Nesyri is a reserved person who takes into account, when choosing his destination, the place where you want to play.
‘Lopetegui has always valued En-Nesyri’
“This is why he is less attracted to England, although he also knows that with his physical condition it is a championship that is perfect for him, in addition to the football impact in terms of his status as a top-level athlete.
“He (Lopetegui) has always valued En-Nesyri and it is in his mind to take him to the Premier (League), another matter is whether he can try. The forward’s numbers are there.”
En-Nesyri, who turned 27 on Saturday, has an average match rating of just under 7/10 and has been voted Sevilla’s man of the match on four occasions.
As West Ham fans will know the striker has fantastic pace and is brilliant in the air.
Lopetegui clearly envisages him leading the line for his new-look West Ham team.
So the Hammers – if they are serious about backing their new head coach – must make this move happen at the third time of asking following two previous rejections from En-Nesyri.