West Ham United transfer news as £32.2m Alexander Sorloth clause emerges

West Ham will have to pay at least £32.2million if they want to sign striker Alexander Sorloth from Villarreal this summer, according to AS.

The Spanish outlet reported on 4 July that the Hammers and Serie A side Roma have both enquired into the Norwegian attacker's availability, but Villarreal have made clear that any club wanting to sign him this summer will have to meet his release clause.

Sorloth is under contract with the LaLiga side until 2028 and, while Villarreal owner Fernando Roig has reportedly stated they do need to sell a player this summer, making an immediate sale is "not urgent".

As a result, the Yellow Submarine will turn down any approaches below the striker's buyout clause, holding out for £32.2m after Sorloth top-scored for the club with 26 goals in all competitions last season.

West Ham could solve striker issue with Alexander Sorloth signing

While shelling out £32.2m on a striker who's first spell in the Premier League didn't exactly go to plan is a bold move, Sorloth could be exactly what the Irons need to transform their attack next season [Guillem Balague, 6 May].

Having scored 23 LaLiga goals to finish as the division's second-highest scorer while in a side who performed similarly to the Hammers - finishing just outside the European places with an early Europa League exit - the smooth transition of environment suggests Sorloth could be a hit this time around.

Outscoring players of Robert Lewandowski and Antoine Griemzann's calibre, as well as fellow transfer target Youssef En-Nesyri, is certainly a statement of intent for any club interested in signing a striker [Mundo Deportivo, 3 July].

Veterans Michail Antonio and Danny Ings looking to be on their way out further necessitates this transfer, and few of the Irons' other reported targets have scored at a rate even close to Sorloth last season. [Daily Mail, 18 June]

That, coupled with the simple fact that the Hammers are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements this summer, suggests that if the club are to invest heavily on one player this summer then it could be Sorloth.

In other West Ham news, the Hammers have made a significant transfer swoop as a bid has been submitted for a Euro 2024 star which is the highest one received by the club.

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