West Ham given 'huge' Sydie Peck verdict after successful scouting mission

West Ham United have identified Sheffield United star Sydie Peck as a high priority this summer.

The Hammers know they will have to sell first, but that isn't stopping them from gathering a list of targets for Nuno Espirito Santo.

According to The Athletic on Friday, Peck is "high" on their shopping list, as the England U21s gem could be seen as a key midfield asset.

The 21-year-old has spent the last few seasons in the Championship, and the Blades may need to sell to get back on track.

Peck is out of contract in 2028, and though he may demand a decent sum of money, that's nothing Mateus Fernandes' sale won't fix.

West Ham's verdict after Sydie Peck scouting mission

West Ham will have some key midfield decisions to make, with the likes of Tomas Soucek, Freddie Potts, Soungoutou Magassa, and Mohamadou Kante all still on the books.

It's clear that Nuno feels there is some quality missing and some key attributes that need to be added to the middle of the park.

West Ham have reportedly been scouting Peck since the start of the year, and believe the Englishman has "huge" potential.

The London-born star was nominated for the Championship's Young Player of the Season award this past campaign, once again showing his ability throughout the course of the season.

Sheffield United are still trying to balance the books, as failing to gain promotion back to the big time in recent years has cost them financially.

This could help West Ham's case to sign their star youngster.

What has Chris Wilder said about Peck?

Sheffield United head coach Chris Wilder is big on Peck and was the one who gave him his breakthrough.

Since then, the former Oldham Athletic loanee has gone from strength to strength at Bramall Lane, and has racked up 89 appearances already for the Blades.

The former Middlesbrough and Watford boss has repeatedly defended Peck in press conferences, but has been asked about the player's future recently.

Speaking on the future of Peck, Wilder said: "If we have to sell a player or two, we will do.

"We have to raise money, I'm okay with that."

While it's not yet known just how much the Hammers would have to spend on Peck, given the current market, anything in the fee of £10million or above could be realistic.

It all depends on how much David Sullivan wishes to support Nuno with new additions.