Baris Alper Yilmaz spotted in London as West Ham United hope to win transfer race
West Ham transfer target Baris Alper Yilmaz has been spotted in London as English clubs compete for his signature, according to Ajansspor.
The Turkish outlet reported on 19 July that following his international exploits with Turkey at Euro 2024, the Galatasaray forward went to London and was pictured on social media.
It’s not been made clear if Yilmaz is in the capital to specifically seal a transfer or is simply on a brief holiday, with the Hammers, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur all interested in signing him this summer.
Julen Lopetegui’s side are reportedly in the process of tabling a bid for the 24-year-old [Sporx, 17 July], but Ajansspor’s report details that Liverpool have made the first move in the race to sign him with a £25.3million offer.
West Ham could make statement with Baris Alper Yilmaz transfer
Beating the two sides who finished third and fifth respectively in last season’s Premier League to the signature of a highly-sought international winger would be a shrewd move on Lopetegui’s part.
The Hammers have already shown they’re willing to spend big on players wanted by other top-flight clubs, signing Wolves captain Max Kilman for a whopping £40million fee on 4 July [Fabrizio Romano] .
Another highly rated prospect in the form of 19-year-old Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme has also been brought through the door [The Athletic, 13 June], and Yilmaz would add further to the Irons’ wide stocks.
With Guilherme and potentially Yilmaz on the books, the futures of stars like Mohammed Kudus may be questioned, but the Hammers are also hoping to keep their best players as well as sign new ones.
That would give Lopetegui a plethora of options from which to choose from, and if he’s able to beat Liverpool and Spurs to the signing of Yilmaz, his frontline will be the envy of much of the Premier League.
In other West Ham news, a Premier League striker is close to sealing a £37million move to the London Stadium.
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