Report: West Ham handed Eddie Nketiah transfer boost
West Ham have received a boost in their pursuit for Eddie Nketiah after Folarin Balogun signed a new Arsenal deal.
The London side, who are in the market for a striker, have now been given hope that they could complete a deal for the 21-year-old striker this summer, according to the Evening Standard.
Nketiah has been frustrated with the lack of playing time under Mikel Arteta this season.
The fact that Balogun is seen as a long-term prospect possibly means that Nketiah’s future lies away from the Emirates Stadium.
However, things weren’t always this way. Last March, Arteta was full of praise for the young striker.
“He’s [Nketiah] been phenomenal,” he said.
“The work rate that he puts in, the rhythm that goes into his pressing, his understanding of the game — every time, when to come, when to go in behind — and he’s always in front of goal and ready to score.”
The Hammers were open to the idea of signing him this January itself, but Arsenal were unwilling to listen to any offers for the player.
However, they are now hoping that the Gunners have had a change of heart and will be open to the idea of parting ways with their talented young striker.
Better options out there
The same Evening Standard report suggests that the Hammers are keeping an eye on Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri, and he is surely a better signing than Nketiah?
The Moroccan has played a key role in Sevilla’s quest to secure a top-four spot this season and has helped his team’s cause with 15 league goals.
Even in the Champions League, the 23-year-old has shown up, scoring a brace in the round of 16 second leg against Dortmund.
David Moyes’ men tend to focus on set pieces and En-Nesyri is a potent threat from dead-ball situations.
Nketiah, on the other hand, is a player who’s good at finding spaces behind the opposition defence and is also adept at playing on the counter-attack.
However, our need of the hour is for a target man and someone who has a solid injury record, unlike Michael Antonio.
Unfortunately, the Arsenal forward is neither of the two and hasn’t even established himself as a regular in Arteta’s team.
While he is a decent option to have, we should look elsewhere in our hunt for a goal scorer.
In other West Ham news, Report: Club want to sign ‘phenomenal’ PL star amid fall-out with club over off-field antics