A homegrown star being tracked by technical director Tim Steidten is now officially free to join West Ham after running down his contract.
West Ham have been linked with players from every corner of the globe of late.
But ensuring a large percentage of this summer’s signings tick the Premier League’s homegrown status box is also key.
Among those the Hammers have been linked with fulfilling that criteria are Wolves skipper Max Kilman, Sunderland’s Jack Clarke, Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters, ex Spurs man Ryan Sessegnon, Hull City’s Jacob Greaves and Coventry’s Callum O’Hare.
Tim Steidten faced the media for the official unveiling of new Hammers head coach Julen Lopetegui on Monday.
And Steidten made it clear that West Ham are looking to sign homegrown players.
Steidten makes West Ham’s homegrown strategy clear
“England is where we are, so we have to work in that market as best as we possibly can,” Steidten said, as reported on West Ham’s website.
“Ultimately it doesn’t matter where players come from – it’s our job to find the right players for West Ham United – but the English market is important for us.”
With that in mind, there have been two very interesting developments where the Hammers are concerned.
Two areas Steidten is looking to strengthen for Lopetegui is in attacking midfield and at full-back.
Now a homegrown star tracked by Steidten is officially free to join West Ham.
But there’s bad news about another free agent who is reportedly being considered by the east Londoners too.
Star tracked by Steidten now officially free to join West Ham
The Guardian and Football League World have both recently claimed West Ham want Coventry’s versatile 26-year-old O’Hare.
O’Hare had an impressive campaign last season in the Championship.
Now it has been announced by the Sky Blues that they have not been able to agree a new contract with the attack-minded midfielder and he has now left the club as a free agent.
Coventry released a statement on the West Ham target, who was a standout star during their remarkable run to the FA Cup semi-finals, where they were desperately unlucky to lose to Manchester United on penalties.
“Coventry City would like to thank Callum for his contribution to the club that was unfortunately significantly disrupted due to injury over his last two seasons with us,” the Coventry statement reads.
O’Hare would undoubtedly be signed as a squad player if West Ham do bring him in.
One who ticks that all-important homegrown box.
The former Aston Villa academy graduate has other clubs interested, though, including Southampton and Celtic.
Palace take Sessegnon in-house in bid to beat Hammers
It will be interesting now to see whether West Ham pounce. Especially in light of Steidten’s comments about signing players from the English market.
One in that category who probably won’t be joining now is Sessegnon.
The left-back has been released by Spurs after an injury-hit spell in north London.
It had been reported that Sessegnon was training on his own under the watchful eye of West Ham in a bid to try and earn a move to the London Stadium.
But according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Sessegnon is now taking part in pre-season training with Crystal Palace.
And he states the Eagles are looking to steal a march on the likes of the Hammers for a potential bargain free transfer for the 24-year-old.
