West Ham United ready to sign ‘Wonderkid’ with club to sanction new transfer
West Ham United want to sign Besiktas “Wonderkid” Semih Kilicsoy in a deal worth in excess of £21m, according to Caught Offside.
Writing on their website (1 May), the news outlet report that the Hammers are one of a host of clubs who have been “keeping tabs” on the 18-year-old Turkish sensation this season ahead of a potential transfer this summer.
Arsenal, Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Atletico Madrid and Fulham are all also said to be interested, and sources believe Besiktas are ready to let the starlet leave in a deal worth between £21.3m and £25.6m.
West Ham United need striker reinforcements
There’s no doubting that West Ham are in need of a new striker this summer with Michail Antonio entering the twilight of his career, Divin Mubama expected to leave and Danny Ings never quite getting rolling since his arrival.
But whether an 18-year-old with just one season of first-team football under his belt is the answer remains to be seen.
Kilicsoy has scored 11 goals in 30 appearances this season for the Istanbul giants, and is versatile enough to be able to play on both wings as well as centrally.
However, splashing in excess of £21m to bring in a player with such limited experience is a huge gamble and one the club can’t really afford after getting so many signings wrong in this position over the years.
Whoever is in charge will want their squad to be full of players who are ready to go immediately and as talented as Kilicsoy is, he is not that. This is a risk just not worth taking.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers could sign another “exciting” young attacker and immediately loan him out.
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