West Ham transfer stance emerges on Chukwuemeka amid £40m Chelsea development

West Ham United look set to miss out on a deal to sign Carney Chukwuemeka from Chelsea in January, according to GiveMeSport.

The report from the news outlet [19 December] has suggested the Blues have slapped a £40million asking price on the attacking midfielder that the Hammers will not match, with other irons in the fire lined up by Tim Steidten to further strengthen the squad.

Julen Lopetegui's Hammers have registered their interest in Chukwuemeka, 21 [Caught Offside, 17 December], who is yet to appear in the Premier League this season for Enzo Maresca's side but has featured five times across the Conference League and Carabao Cup.

West Ham moving onto other targets after Chukwuemeka snub

Chukwuemeka himself may have been open to a switch across London, though according to the report is earning a tidy £100,000 per week at Stamford Bridge.

The England youth international may for this reason be prioritising a loan move over a permanent Chelsea exit, particularly with the potential pathway to the first team encouraged by the multiple competitions in which the Blues are fighting.

West Ham paid a similar sum to Chukwuemeka's asking price for an often sub-par Max Kilman last summer from Wolves, one of several high-profile new signings but one who has appeared plentifully this season as opposed to others.

The Irons have endured a disappointing campaign so far considering the funds they invested into the squad, and it seems Steidten is showing no sign of stopping with January on the horizon.

However, in a more difficult and smaller market to navigate in the winter window, the club are wisely stopping short of splashing £40m on a player with just six Premier League starts to his name.

It would certainly be a longer-term investment for whoever next picks up Chukwuemeka - that's if any club decides to take a punt on a very well-paid star whose contract does not expire until 2028.

In other West Ham news, a potential contract termination has been debated for a star who only signed in the summer.

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