West Ham eye move for Red Bull Salzburg striker Patson Daka
West Ham are eyeing a move for highly-rated Red Bull Salzburg striker Patson Daka, according to Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur.
The news was relayed by Goal’s Ronan Murphy via his personal Twitter profile, after he quoted Konur’s tweet.
Murphy wrote, “RB Leipzig want to replace Alexander Sorloth with Red Bull Salzburg’s Patson Daka. West Ham are also interested in Daka.”
Daka, 22, has been linked to a host of top European clubs in recent months, including the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United, with the Daily Star claiming a £17million price on his head in April.
He plays his international football for Zambia and his head coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredejovic told the BBC in January that he “could be compared to Sadio Mane or Samuel Eto’o, with the level of skill and speed that he has.”
The Salzburg striker has scored 34 goals in 41 appearances for the reigning Austrian champions this season, including two in Champions League qualifying. [Transfermarkt]
Antonio alternative is vital
It’s the elephant in the room. David Moyes knows it, the players know it and so do the fans – West Ham urgently need to sign a striker this summer.
Moyes has performed a minor miracle to get us within a whisker of securing Europa League football next season, something that can be achieved on Sunday against Southampton with a draw.
The Irons boss has had just one striker to choose from since January and, at times, none at all with Michail Antonio often injured.
Sebastien Haller was sold to Ajax in January after an underwhelming 18 months in East London and it felt like a matter of time until a new forward was brought in.
Unfortunately, in true GSB style, that never arrived.
Jesse Lingard did though, and his goals have been vital to propel us up the Premier League table, but he’s a midfielder and is only on loan with no guarantee of making the deal permanent.
Antonio has been brilliant when he’s been fit, scoring 20 Premier League goals in 49 appearances since the start of last season, but that means he has missed 26 games.
Daka could be the perfect partner for him or replacement when he inevitably gets struck down by injury once more.
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