West Ham United look for Youssef En-Nesyri alternatives already after new transfer blow
West Ham have begun looking for alternative options at striker after negotiations with Sevilla over a potential deal for Youssef En-Nesyri stalled, according to Sky Sports.
The news outlet shared via their Transfer Centre website on 24 August [16:25] that the Hammers have been unable to agree a deal for the Morocco forward, despite reports suggesting that both parties were keen on the move.
An alternative option to the Moroccan striker may already have been identified at the London Stadium, after it was reported Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun would be one to watch if the En-Nesyri deal broke down [Ryan Taylor, 24 August].
He would have been ideal
Despite a seemingly patchy goal record for Sevilla, having scored more than ten league goals just once in his career, En-Nesyri would have been an ideal fit for David Moyes’ system.
An effective aerial presence, able to cause trouble for defenders with his bully-like nature, and bring others into play by holding the ball up is exactly what the West Ham boss looks for in a striker. His presence also would have been an addition to an already dangerous set-piece lineup.
That top-scoring season for En-Nesyri came in the 2020/21 season, where he bagged 18 goals in 38 league appearances. Since then, he has managed just 13 goals in 54 appearances across two seasons [Transfermarkt].
West Ham will now assess other options up front, with Balogun among names speculated throughout the window. Striker has been a priority position in East London since Gianluca Scamacca made the move back to Italy, leaving the Hammers short for numbers.
Their current options are Michail Antonio and Danny Ings, who are seen as unreliable across the course of a season as the former is not a consistent goalscorer while the latter has struggled with repetitive injuries.
In other West Ham news, an injury twist has emerged in the Hammers’ chase for another new midfielder.