Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has given a big update on West Ham’s transfer plans this week.
After securing the signature of Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd on Monday, it is now being reported that David Moyes has now switched his focus to other key areas of the squad that need strengthening.
It’s no secret that the Hammers are in desperate need of at least one striker this summer, and Sheth revealed the club’s interest in Chelsea’s Armando Broja and hinted that an official bid is edging closer.
He said: “Another player that was emerging yesterday, Armando Broja.
“They’re expected to make that [their interest] official soon, is the word that I’ve been told. He’s one of a number of strikers that West Ham United are looking at but there is a long-standing interest in Broja.
“West Ham United actually tried to sign him in the January transfer window. His valuation, we’re told, is upwards of around £25m.”
Those comments were on the back of a huge claim that Moyes is looking to add at least six new players to his squad this summer, after releasing Mark Noble, Andriy Yarmolenko and Ryan Fredericks at the end of the season, as well as choosing not to make Alex Kral’s loan spell permanent.
And Sheth went on to name two other players who could end up in claret and blue, alongside Broja, come the end of the window.
“I think it’s going to be a very, very busy window for West Ham United,” he said.
“Nayef Aguerd came in from Rennes in a deal worth around £30m. I just get the impression that David Moyes wants at least six new players in this transfer window, not only to boost the quality but to boost numbers as well because they lost four first-team squad members at the end of last season, and two other loan players as well.
“The players potentially coming in; Alphonse Areola. I’m told today that West Ham United are increasingly confident that they can get a deal done for Alphonse Areola from PSG.
“They continue to work on personal terms with the goalkeeper. Once they’ve agreed on those personal terms they will trigger the £11m option that they hold on Areola. I’m told terms are over a five-year contract.
“And a final one that is potentially arriving, I say potentially because this is one that has been in the pipeline and been of interest to West Ham United ever since he had a fantastic loan spell with them in the 2020/21 season, the back half of that season; Jesse Lingard. I’m told that West Ham remain interested in Jesse Lingard and are keeping, let’s say, an eye on his situation.
“Now we’re told also that there are other areas of the pitch that are priority at the moment, that doesn’t mean to say that if Jesse Lingard wants to come to West Ham, West Ham wouldn’t be interested.
“Every time you speak to David Moyes in a news conference during a transfer window and you ask him the question about Jesse Lingard, he says ‘he had an amazing spell with us a couple of seasons ago, why wouldn’t we be interested?’
“Finances could prove to be the crucial factor here but it is just one that they’re keeping an eye on. There are other priorities that they’re looking at.”
The Areola deal is one we’ve all been expecting to be completed at some point this summer, given his success as the club’s cup goalkeeper last term. The £11m option to buy is relatively cheap for a player of his calibre, so it’s no surprise to see that one potentially edging closer to completion.
The ongoing Lingard is somewhat surprising, though. Yes, Moyes will obviously still be a fan of him after the success he had during his loan spell, but at what point do you decide to move on?
Of course, Sheth admitted that West Ham have other priorities to take care of first but it has felt for some time now that that ship has sailed, as far as Lingard returning to east London is concerned. It’ll be interesting to see how that one plays out at the summer progresses.
