West Ham United and Chelsea set for double transfer battle as scouts descend on Archie Brown
West Ham and Chelsea are in competition for both Archie Brown and Bradley Locko ahead of the summer transfer window, according to HITC.
The outlet reported via their website on 4 March that Gent defender Brown was scouted at the weekend by host of Premier League sides, who additionally is of interest to Championship side Leeds United and foreign clubs.
London rivals Brentford and Fulham are also in the frame for the 21-year-old, who has featured as a wing-back in the Jupiler Pro League this season.
As well as Brown Chelsea are looking at Brest left-back Bradley Locko, putting them up against the Hammers again in the hunt for defensive reinforcements.
Bradley Locko wanted by West Ham and London rivals Chelsea
Aaron Cresswell has long been linked to an exit from the London Stadium and with his contract expiring in the summer that looks like it is finally set to happen.
The Englishman, veteran of 338 Irons appearances, has only featured seven times in all competitions under David Moyes this term to illustrate his phasing out of the side, but a replacement will be needed.
West Ham have been linked to left-back reinforcements for a series of transfer windows but have failed to get anyone in for one reason or another since regular starter Emerson arrived two summers ago, himself from Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have since spent huge money on Marc Cucurella from Brighton and yet seem intent on selling Ian Maatsen, who himself was a Hammers target in the summer.
And now the links between the two Premier League sides in relation to left-back developments look set to continue into the summer.
Brown only joined Gent at the start of the current campaign but appears to be in line for a move with no shortage of suitors, so if West Ham are going to get to the head of the queue Tim Steidten and Moyes will need to put their differences aside, if indeed they are both still at the club in a few months’ time.
While Locko, also 21, has been at Brest since the January window last year but looks like he could end up the fall-back option if Brown is missed out on.
In other West Ham news, three “top”, trophy-winning managers have been named on Sky Sports as Moyes future hangs in the balance.
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