After being offered Raheem Sterling now a jet-heeled Arsenal star has sent a come and get me plea to West Ham United.
New West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui and Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta are part of a group of elite managers all hailing from the Basque region of Spain.
And they all share a similar ideology about how football should be played – on the attack.
If there were any doubts Lopetegui was looking to play the kind of attacking football West Ham fans crave then they have been put to rest by the club’s first signing of the summer.
The Hammers have brought in Brazilian teenage attacking midfield sensation Luis Guilherme.
And they’re not done there.
While there are clearly levels between West Ham and Arsenal, Hammers fans would love to play like their London rivals.
Historically West Ham are known for playing quality, innovative attacking football.
Hammers legends Ron Greenwood and John Lyall were ahead of their time in that regard.
West Ham plan to go on the attack
Nowadays Gunners boss Arteta is one of football’s innovators.
West Ham have signed Guilherme as he is versatile and can play across all attacking positions.
But the Irons continue to be linked with a host of other versatile, quick, skilful and powerful attacking stars at good ages.
Wingers and forwards such as Matias Soule, Jota Silva and Jhon Arias are all being linked with West Ham.
Hammers News revealed on Friday that Chelsea have even offered Lopetegui Raheem Sterling.
The ex Man City star turns 30 next season. So he doesn’t necessarily fit into West Ham’s new recruitment policy.
But one Gunners bit-part player very much does. And he may have just altered technical director Tim Steidten’s transfer plans.
Nelson sends come and get me plea to West Ham
Because jet-heeled Arsenal star Reiss Nelson has sent a come and get me plea to West Ham after a big decision.
Lines of communication are already established between West Ham and Arsenal after Declan Rice’s £105m move in the summer.
West Ham have been linked with rapid winger Nelson on several occasions in the past.
That includes the January window when Arsenal were reportedly willing to loan West Ham the 24-year-old.
The problem was the Elephant and Castle-born star wanted to stay at the Emirates and fight for his place.
Now he seems to have had a change of heart after a long hard think about his situation at Arsenal.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Nelson has told Arsenal he wants to assess his transfer options this summer.
Gunners bit-part player perfect for Hammers
The report states that Arsenal would want around £20million including add-ons for Nelson.
That fits into West Ham’s summer budget perfectly. And, crucially, Nelson would also tick the homegrown player status for the Hammers.
It is stated that West Ham are the biggest club in for Nelson with Palace, Fulham and Forest the competition.
Ornstein also suggests West Ham’s approach for Nelson in January has made him consider his future after a lack of game time since.
Although he claims it was Arsenal blocking a deal that was the problem in the last window.
“Nelson’s game time was limited last season and approaches for him arrived in January, however they were rejected as Arsenal competed for the Premier League and Champions League…
“He made his senior debut in 2017 but was restricted to just one Premier League start last season and a further 14 appearances from the bench as Arsenal finished second in the league to Manchester City.”
That is a real waste of a super young talent.
Nelson’s pace is frightening and he should be a regular feature in the Premier League by now.
West Ham are building a young, exciting side and Nelson fits Steidten’s recruitment strategy perfectly.
It’s time for him to fly the Arsenal nest and show what he can do at the London Stadium.
You can check out Nelson in action below.
