West Ham could be ‘thanking Chelsea’ in bid for last-gasp transfer
With the closing of the winter transfer window nearly upon us, Graham Potter will be eager to get his final deals over the line to push the Hammers forward.
The new boss has had to be measured in his business during the window due to the amount of money the Hammers backed Julen Lopetegui with in the summer transfer window.
However, the Irons seem to be getting the necessary work done as they look to rise up the table in the remainder of the campaign.
Attacking reinforcements have been a key area of focus for Potter given Niclas Fullkrug and Michail Antonio are sidelined through injury and captain Jarrod Bowen has had a spell out.
The signing of Evan Ferguson on loan from Brighton is set to be confirmed on Monday according to Sean Whetstone (2 February) but it looks as though the door is open to bring in further attacking players.
It was reported by Corriere della Sera (2 February) that the Hammers have been offered Noah Okafor by AC Milan as they look to get attacking players off their books if they are to strike a deal to take Joao Felix from Chelsea.
Chelsea choice may open the door to Noah Okafor West Ham arrival
Although AC Milan are after Felix from Chelsea, Aston Villa have also been heavily linked with a transfer move for the forward before the closing of the January transfer window.
However, Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol claimed (2 February) that a move to Villa is unlikely to happen with his current side preferring to keep him at Stamford Bridge or send him abroad.
With this in mind, AC Milan will have received a massive boost in their pursuit of the 25-year-old as it has reduced the competition for his signature.
Therefore, this could also lead to them being prepared to push for a deal to send Okafor away from Italy to create space for Felix in the squad.
Given the Irons have been offered this transfer, this will surely be a decision that Potter is considering as he looks to boost his options further
It could be a bit of a risky one given the attacker failed a medical to stop him from joining RB Leipzig in January [La Gazzetta dello Sport, 20 January].
However, with time ticking away a decision needs to be made and as an attacker who’s comfortable playing across the front three, this may be a risk the manager decides to take.
In other West Ham news, a rival Premier League club’s owner has made it his “personal mission” to beat the Irons to a new signing.
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