For any fans wondering why West Ham United appear interested in a winger who spent last season in English football’s third tier, let us direct your attention to Amario Cozier-Duberry’s winner during Bolton’s play-off semi-final victory over Bradford.
As the ball dropped invitingly on the right-hand side of the Bantams penalty area, Bolton’s Brighton and Hove Albion loanee took one touch to set himself and used the second to whip a fizzing shot into the far corner.
That was one of ten goals Amario Cozier-Duberry scored during his spell in Lancashire. And far from the most spectacular.
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That honour arguably goes to his last-gasp winner against eventual automatic promotion winners Cardiff. Again, Cozier-Duberry would channel his inner-Jarrod Bowen, cutting in onto his left boot and letting fly in scintillating fashion.
Knowing what he is going to do and stopping him from doing it, clearly, are very different things.
According to The Athletic, West Ham United are long-time admirers of the former Arsenal youngster. A tally of ten goals and 13 assists during a breakout season at Bolton certainly hasn’t changed that; Roshane Thomas reporting that the Hammers may now look to make a move this summer, although Brighton have entered talks regarding a contract extension.
West Ham United eye Brighton’s Bolton hero Amario Cozier-Duberry
Cozier-Duberry is not the first Bowen-esque, left-footed right winger to be linked with a move to East London this month.
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Cozier-Duberry and Fatawu both possess a highlight reel of audacious, occasionally awe-striking finishes from the right-hand flank. The similarities do not end there, though. Both have also been likened to Arsenal and England star Bukayo Saka.
While Leicester legend Gary Lineker likened Fatawu to the Gunners’ number seven, Jack Wilshere made similar claims about Cozier-Duberry during his time in charge of Arsenal’s Under-18s.
“He reminds me of Bukayo Saka,” Wilshere told The Athletic. “[Cozier-Duberry] plays in the same position as him. He needs to get better with his decision-making, like Bukayo did, but he’s definitely exciting.
“In some moments, he’s unplayable. You give him the ball and he can make things happen. You can set up a team and have a gameplan but, when you’ve got individuals like that, you’ve got a chance.”
To back up Wilshere’s point, three of Cozier-Duberry’s ten Bolton goals were matchwinners. He also snatched a point from the jaws of defeat with another trademark, left-footed wondergoal during a 1-1 draw with Huddersfield.
“He’s obviously a special player,” Trotters teammate Josh Sheehan told Bolton News. “He has got that bit of X-factor that he can just create something out of nothing.”
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How many players currently at West Ham could you say that about? Jarrod Bowen, certainly. Crysencio Summerville, Mateus Fernandes and Taty Castellanos too.
But while Daniel Kretinsky is determined to keep the Hammers’ best players in East London, it would be a surprise if even 50 per cent of that aforementioned quartet are still wearing claret and blue come September.
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Cozier-Duberry is an unknown quantity above League One level. It is not hard to imagine a footballer who looked head and shoulders above most in the third tier adapting well to life in the second, though.
“He’s a top player,” Wilshere told Luton Today before his Hatters side took on Cozier-Duberry’s Bolton in November.
“A top kid first of all. A top person, very hungry, very humble. Everyone can see his ability. In my opinion he can play in the Championship now, maybe even the Premier League with the stuff he’s doing.”
If the captain stays – Hammers News can reveal that West Ham are ‘confident’ Bowen will remain – Cozier-Duberry would likely be tasked with providing competition and back-up to the skipper. The same can be said of Fatawu, though the addition of another right winger would also give Nuno the option of fielding Bowen down the middle.
According to BBC Sport, Cozier-Duberry is at a crossroads in his Brighton career. His current deal runs until 2028. But if no extension can be agreed, the chances are that the Seagulls will cash in.
West Ham, having watched the Islington-born England youth international closely as he rose through the ranks, may opt to strike while the Cozier-Duberry iron is hot.
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