West Ham United make active attempts to seal Hugo Ekitike loan, £30m purchase option needed
West Ham United have been “active” in the past hours to sign Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitike, according to L’Equipe.
According to the French publication (21 August), the Hammers must concretize its discussions with PSG by offering in the coming days a loan, with a purchase option very easily achievable around €35million (£30m).
French journalist Fabrice Hawkins reported on 21 August that West Ham are facing one less competition to sign Ekitike who only joined Paris Saint-Germain a year ago, with Eintracht Frankfurt and AC Milan interested.
PSG are believed to have offered Ekitike’s services to the German Bundesliga outfit in order to seal a move for Randal Kolo Muani, but West Ham have been active in recent hours to sign Ekitike on loan.
Elite talent, superb buy
Ekitike could indeed represent another “blinding” transfer for the London Stadium faithful considering the potential and current attacking class the 21-year-old possesses in his weaponry.
The 21-year-old was actually on loan at PSG from Reims last season and struggled for regular minutes due to the plethora of talent in front of him in Messi, Mbappe and Neymar, scoring three goals and registering four assists in the league, still contributing positively as another title came their way.
And his struggles at Paris Saint-Germain certainly won’t derail potential suitors around Europe, in fact, it will draw them to him, and West Ham certainly face a tough battle to sign him with a couple other European clubs in the race.
But the Hammers must certainly show their ambitions again with an attempt to sign this burgeoning elite talent with the club desperate for another striker to ease the burden on Michail Antonio.
Ekitike could be an extremely useful asset for West Ham as he ranks within the top 3% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for assists per 90, as well as the highest 24% for successful take-ons per 90.
Whatever Moyes’ plan, the attacker could be a pivotal piece of depth for a side searching for more European glory and a higher domestic finish this season. A potential superb buy, even if it is on loan.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have entered the hunt to sign this incredibly gifted Belgian attacker.