West Ham favourites to sign Youssef En-Nesyri
West Ham are the favourites to sign Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri according to Spanish outlet La Razon.
The Hammers were first linked in January, but a move did not materialise due to the 23-year-old wanting to remain in Spain [Estadio Deportivo].
Liverpool and Manchester United are also linked to En-Nesyri [Foot Mercato], but West Ham are believed to be the frontrunners for his signature.
The Morocco international has 22 goals in all competitions this season and a release clause of €60million [£51.6milllion], so he could be an expensive addition for West Ham.
Reaching the next level
West Ham are on the verge of qualifying for Europe this season and a signing like En-Nesyri would be a real statement of our ambition.
The forward ranks fifth in the La Liga top scorer rankings, ahead of Antoine Griezmann, and he still has plenty of years in him to get better.
There is a lot to like about the attacker, but his finishing ability stands out and offers us something different from what we have currently.
Indeed, Diario de Sevilla [via The Guardian], nicknamed him “Hurricane Youssef” and described the striker as having been “touched by the goalscorer’s magic wand”.
That is some praise, and suggests En-Nesyri could emulate Michail Antonio’s bullish style in leading the line.
If he arrives he should be able to link up well with the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Pablo Fornals, scoring the goals to make us a more dangerous outfit.
We have improved massively going forward, Jesse Lingard has helped with that, but a star of En-Nesyri’s quality is the missing piece of the puzzle.
In other West Ham news, the Irons also want a Premier League player Thomas Tuchel called ‘exceptional’, and his current club may want to sell.