West Ham United transfer news as towering striker Keisuke Goto wanted
West Ham are keeping tabs on 18-year-old Japanese striker Keisuke Goto, who has also drawn interest from Everton and Sevilla, according to the Daily Mail.
Koto towers above his opponents at 6ft 3, aged just 18, and was set to represent his country at the World U20 Championships before facing an injury setback.
With five goals and an assist in 17 appearances for Jubilo Iwata so far this season, Goto has been capped through the youth ranks with Japan, and has been widely tipped to make his breakthrough into the senior squad before too long, with his progression moving rapidly.
The report suggests that West Ham are keen to bolster their squad with younger talent this season, and want to add some height to their team following Declan Rice's departure to Arsenal.
Goto could arrive in the United Kingdom through the exceptional talent GBE rule, which means players don't need to qualify under the normal points system.
Get him through the doors
An 18-year-old striker, playing outside of Europe yet attracting the interest of some of Europe's top clubs including Europa League winners Sevilla, is always the type of deal fans are keen to see finalised.
Five goals from 17 games is not a bad return at all for an 18-year-old, and his height offers something West Ham and particularly David Moyes will want to target at make the most of - perhaps still with room to grow.
This deal would mark an instant progression in terms of their transfer plans, following the appointment of Tim Steidten as the new technical director, as the Japanese striker would be the first player under the age of to join West Ham since the Irons signed Sead Haksabanovic in 2017.
Japanese football in particular has been under focus from clubs in the United Kingdom, following Celtic and new Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou's successful signings from the J League sticking in recent memory.
In other West Ham news, a finance expert has had their say over Declan Rice's proposed move to Arsenal.