West Ham United transfer news as Chelsea join race to sign Keisuke Goto
Chelsea have joined West Ham United in the race to sign towering Japanese prospect Keisuke Goto, according to the Daily Mail.
The Daily Mail reported on 29 June that West Ham are keen to bolster their squad with younger talent this season and look to add some height to their team following Declan Rice’s departure to Arsenal.
And according to a new report (17 July), super-rich London rivals Chelsea have now joined the race for Goto’s signature, believing that the teenager has the physical attributes and skill to make it in England or at one of their proposed partner clubs.
The 18-year-old centre forward, a product of the Japanese Jubilo Iwata youth academy, is 6ft 3ins tall and was due to represent his country at the World U20 Championships, but fell to an unfortunate injury.
Race now difficult
Goto is said to be one of the hottest young properties in Japan because of his towering presence, deceptive speed, strength, aggression and his ability to find the net on a consistent basis.
Five goals from 17 games is not a bad return at all for an 18-year-old, and his height offers something West Ham and particularly David Moyes will want to target and make the most of – perhaps still with room to grow.
It’s certainly encouraging to see West Ham United explore a whole new market for some youthful transfer opportunities and Goto represents an attractive and refreshing option for the Hammers to look into this summer.
However, the race to sign him now looks pretty difficult with Chelsea in the picture, and the Blues aren’t the only ones with Dutch giants Ajax who will always attract the hottest prospects on the continent also in the frame.
West Ham United is an attractive and promising option for young exciting talents but can they offer the same as Ajax would? Probably unlikely, but with the Hammers looking to bring in more young and fresh talents to the club, they can certainly attempt to pip the likes of Chelsea and Ajax to Goto’s signature.
In other West Ham news, Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse is the latest midfielder to be linked to the London Stadium