Lopetegui has a new number one striker target - report

Youssef En-Nesyri is someone who West Ham United have chased for years, and now Julen Lopetegui allegedly wants to sign his former player as well.

West Ham United’s number one striker target all summer long has been Youssef En-Nesyri, and the Sevilla ace is allegedly keen to join us so he can link up with Julen Lopetegui again.

The Hammers boss is prioritising the signing of a top-class centre-forward this summer, as he looks to take us to the next level.

Michail Antonio has been superb for us over the past nine years, but his time playing at the very highest level is clearly nearing an end now.

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En-Nesyri would be the ideal option for West Ham this summer as far as I’m concerned, and he could be available for less than £25 million!

No-brainer right? Maybe it’s not quite as cut and dried as it seems…

Youssef En-Nesyri no longer number one West Ham target

So, as good as the Morocco international undoubtedly would be for the Hammers, he may not be Lopetegui’s first-choice striker signing anymore.

That said, I still think we should be pushing hard to sign the 27-year-old – he’s absolutely perfect for us and the system that our new manager likes to deploy.

En-Nesyri has bagged 73 goals in 194 appearances for Sevilla (Transfermarkt) – better than a goal every three games.

He has an impressive 113 goals for club and country to his name – a very decent return considering that he’s only 27.

The Moroccan is always willing to run the channels, and creates space for his teammates by doing so.

However, there is a spanner in the works for En-Nesyri’s mooted move to the London Stadium it seems, and that’s because Lopetegui is apparently now prioritising a move to sign another striker…

West Ham have new number one striker target

According to Mucho Deporte, Atletico Madrid hitman Samu Omorodion is now the Hammers’ number one striker target.

The Hammers are apparently prepared to pay £33 million in total for the 20-year-old – £24 million up front with £9 million in potential add-ons.

The highly rated 20-year-old has bagged 27 goals in 72 career games so far (Transfermarkt), although none of them have been for Atleti, as he hasn’t played a game for Diego Simeone’s side as yet.

Photo by West Ham United FC/West Ham United FC via Getty Images

Standing at 6ft 4in tall, the Spain under-21 international is an absolute giant, is unplayable in the air, and he’s strong as an ox as well.

Omorodion has everything you’d want in a young striker. He’s absolutely rapid, makes intelligent runs, possesses really impressive movement for someone so young and is a very sharp finisher.

£24 million up front, with £9 million in potential add-ons, seems like a lot of money for a 20-year-old who’s completely unproven in the Premier League.

However, Omorodion is an elite talent, and he could be a far better long-term option for West Ham than Youssef En-Nesyri.

The Moroccan hitman is obviously more of a proven player though, and if Lopetegui wants results immediately, he should opt for his former player over the young Atleti starlet.

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