Jeremy Doku wants Manchester City move as West Ham United push for new transfer
West Ham United target Jeremy Doku wants to move to Manchester City this summer despite interest from the Hammers, according to Talk Sport.
The outlet reported via its Twitter account on Monday (21 August) that the Rennes winger has told the French club that he wants to join Pep Guardiola’s side this summer rather than make the switch to the London Stadium.
David Moyes’ side are admirers of the Belgian winger with the Foot Mercato reporting on Sunday 20 August that the Hammers had an opening offer rejected by Rennes as they looked to strengthen their attacking options at the London Stadium, but the French club are now demanding £47m for the 21-year-old.
Breaking the news of the player’s request, talkSPORT tweeted: “Jeremy Doku has told Rennes he wants to join MCFC despite interest from WHUFC.”
Hard battle
It’s not very often that teams enter a transfer battle with Manchester City and come out on top, and it’s even rarer when the battle is fought by a team outside of England’s big six clubs, so West Ham may be on the back foot in this race.
Doku is an impressive talent, a genuine maverick of a winger, who managed six goals in Ligue 1 last season, which would bring some real excitement to the wings at the London Stadium, but he is at such a level that Guardiola will already see him as a potential starter in the absence of Riyad Mahrez.
What may attract the Belgian to the London Stadium is the guarantee of regular football that may not be present at the Etihad. A move to Moyes’ side would likely see him start most weeks in both the Premier League and Europa League throughout the upcoming campaign.
Financially the Hammers have the funds to make this sort of deal happen this summer, having sold Declan Rice and Gianluca Scamacca, however, if City aren’t able to sign Doku there is every chance that they instead come after Lucas Paqueta from the Irons again this summer.
The Irons may find this a tough fight to win, but you can never predict what will happen for sure in the transfer window.
In other West Ham news, one pundit was stunned by Michail Antonio’s performance against Chelsea