By Peter Lynch

16th Mar, 2023 | 2:10pm

West Ham United send scouts to watch 'very highly rated' Sheffield United striker Iliman Ndiaye

West Ham have sent scouts to watch Sheffield United striker Iliman Ndiaye as the race for the Senegal international continues, according to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs.

Ndiaye has impressed for the Blades this season, scoring 11 goals in the Championship, as well as netting in the superb FA Cup victory over Tottenham.

Such displays have reportedly caught the eye of various Premier League clubs, one of which being the Hammers, who have sent their scouts to have a look at the forward.

“As far as the actual player is concerned, he is very highly rated, that’s for sure,” Jacobs said on the NUFC Matters YouTube channel. “He is only 23 years of age.”

“Naturally, clubs are looking [at him], and Newcastle are one of those that have scouted the player for sure. Everton were the club that have looked at him in the past, so those are two clubs to watch.

“West Ham have also sent some scouts to him too. And this is normal really when you see a breakthrough player in the Championship, still relatively young and backing up last season with this season as well. He scored against Spurs in the FA Cup as well at Bramall Lane so there would have been a fair few at that game watching him.”

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Race for Ndiaye

As noted by Jacobs, West Ham are not the only Premier League club with an eye on Ndiaye’s signature, meaning the Hammers will have to be smart and fast if they are to secure his services.

David Moyes’s men are among the lowest scorers in the league this season, with the likes of Gianluca Scamacca and Michail Antonio not enjoying their best campaigns in front of goal.

The duo have, however, had time on the sidelines with injuries, as has January signing Danny Ings. Italian Scamacca looks set to have the chance to prove his worth from the start in Thursday’s (16 March) meeting with AEK Larnaca.

But Moyes may just be running out of patience with the lack of goals, meaning a summer pursuit of Ndiaye could be on the cards.

The striker could, of course, end up staying at Sheffield should the club get promoted back to the Premier League, with both West Ham and Everton in fear of dropping down a division.

That looks set to determine where Ndiaye will be playing his football next season unless high-flying Newcastle come in with an offer that no other club can match, which is very much a likely scenario.