Tim Steidten to be on red alert after Chelsea update in West Ham United race for Samu Omorodion
West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui has wasted no time getting to grips with the Hammers squad in the summer transfer window.
The former Real Madrid boss is eager to put his stamp on the playing squad between now and the start of the season as he looks to make several changes to the team David Moyes left behind last term.
Although the primary focus has been a defensive revamp in the opening weeks of the window, Lopetegui will know that a new number nine has to be high on the agenda given the Irons’ reliance on Michail Antonio in recent years.
One striker who has caught the eye of the Hammers is Atletico Madrid gem Samu Omorodion, with reports suggesting West Ham have already seen a proposal knocked back for his services [Fabrizio Romano, 15 June].
While a deal had seemed dead and buried as other teams entered the race for the forward’s signature, a new update surrounding Chelsea’s interest in the forward may well have perked the interest of Tim Steidten.
According to TEAMtalk on Monday (8 July) the Blues have decided that they are willing to begin the new Premier League campaign without a new striker having failed in their push to sign Omorodion.
The Blues had a £42million bid rejected for the forward as Atletico have made it clear that they would prefer not to sell the 20-year-old during the summer transfer window amid growing interest.
Are West Ham United close to any new signings in the summer transfer window?
It is clear that it is going to take a lot of money to convince Atletico to sell Omorodion this summer, but West Ham’s hopes of getting the deal over the line will have been boosted by the news that Chelsea appear to be out of the race.
Whether or not the Hammers will be willing to foot the bill to match the Spanish giant’s valuation is another question, but Steidten and his recruitment team will be on red alert whenever an update emerges on the 20-year-old’s future.
It will be interesting to see how the Irons approach this situation in the coming weeks and whether or not they decide to reignite their interest in the forward or turn their attention to other striker targets.
In other West Ham news, a Max Kilman contract update has emerged at the London Stadium after the Premier League closed a “loophole”
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