West Ham United step up serious interest in Youssef En-Nesyri for Julen Lopetegui
West Ham now “seriously” want to buy long-term transfer target Youssef En-Nesyri as Julen Lopetegui’s arrival has made interest in the striker much stronger, according to Vamos Mi Sevilla.
The Spanish outlet reported via their website on 12 May that the forward is the best player in the Andalusian club’s squad, “lightyears” ahead of anyone else, and with his former manager set to take over at the London Stadium the impetus to finally do a deal has increased.
En-Nesyri, 26, was linked to West Ham through multiple transfer windows under David Moyes, while Lopetegui managed him in La Liga, winning a Europa League title in 2020.
Sevilla are currently 12th in Spain’s top flight after a 3-2 defeat to Villarreal and En-Nesyri, who scored both his side’s goals in the loss, is seen as one player who will “surely” be moving on at the end of the campaign.
West Ham to finally sign striker after David Moyes exit?
If the Irons are ever going to sign En-Nesyri then this summer looks like the time, with a change at manager to one who has already worked with the Moroccan international and a clear need to reinforce in attack.
It has to be assumed that Lopetegui and Tim Steidten are expected to be in more agreement over transfers than the technical director has been with Moyes over the past year, and with the striker having just a year left on his contract this summer [MARCA] it should be a more affordable deal to get done.
En-Nesyri had his best goalscoring season under the incoming West Ham boss in the 2020/21 season, registering 18 times in La Liga and adding six more in the Champions League.
After a couple of down years he has rebounded this term to score 19 in all competitions so far so it is perhaps no surprise that interest at the London Stadium is high again.
West Ham tried and failed to sign a striker last summer as Gianluca Scamacca left, while only the disastrous loan deal for Kalvin Phillips was secured in January.
Michail Antonio has long been linked with a move away and the 34 has only scored seven times this season, while Danny Ings only has four in his entire 51-appearance Irons career, and youngster Divin Mubama appears to be on the way out once his contract expires.
So at least one striker looks necessary this summer and En-Nesyri looks obtainable for a reasonable price at long last so could be one of them.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are ready to pay the release clause of another in-demand attacking target.
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