West Ham want an Arsenal star to save their season in January and he’s actually keen to make the switch for one key reason, according to a new report.
When Declan Rice left West Ham for London rivals Arsenal two years ago, he burned his bridges with many supporters.
Some will never make peace with the fact he chose Arsenal as a destination to go out and win the top silverware football has to offer.
But now, even the harshest Rice critic at West Ham would be hard-pressed to argue he made the wrong choice.
Rice could probably see what was coming at West Ham
Yes Rice is yet to win a major trophy with the Gunners, the last being his Europa Conference League triumph with the Hammers.
The rapid and alarming decline at West Ham proves he probably made the right call in terms of his own personal aims and ambitions.
West Ham fans had misgivings about their owners long before Rice’s emergence.
Perhaps the generational talent midfielder knew what was coming.
West Ham’s complete and utter fumble of the £105m pure profit they made on Rice in that deal with Arsenal is one of many grievances supporters have raised in a vote of no confidence in their board.
In many ways West Ham’s regression from European trophy winners to relegation candidates – or certainties in the eyes of many – can be charted back to the fact David Sullivan essentially announced Rice would be sold the day after that memorable night in Prague.
It isn’t just Rice West Ham have failed miserably to replace with the money.
The Hammers seem to find it impossible to sign quality, powerful pacy young strikers who are the right fit for the Premier League.
The Rice bounty from the Gunners should have enabled them to do just that.
But the whole situation was completely mismanaged.
Hammers fumbled Gyokeres but now he could finally help them
The Hammers turned their noses up at Viktor Gyokeres for £17.5m when he was leaving Coventry.
Now West Ham are left with ageing, injury-prone and immobile duo of Callum Wilson and Niclas Fullkrug as their striker options.
As a result the Hammers are bang in trouble, as five defeats in the opening six games attests.
But, ironically, it is Arsenal star Gyokeres who may finally help solve the problem.
Because West Ham are sending an SOS to an Arsenal star he’s actually keen to come for one reason.
It may come six months too late by the time January rolls around, but the Hammers have made ‘initial enquiries’ to Arsenal over the potential signing of striker Gabriel Jesus.
Jesus is well down the pecking order at the Emirates following the big money arrival of Gyokeres.
Now the super Swede – officially the world’s best striker – could force Jesus out.
West Ham have been linked with Jesus on several occasions in the past.
The Brazilian hasn’t played a competitive match since January due to an ACL injury.
Cynics would argue West Ham have not been competitive in a match since January.
West Ham want Arsenal star and he’s actually keen to come
According to Football Transfers, Jesus will be back in action by December and is open to a move to West Ham in January in order to get vital playing time so he can salvage his hopes of making Brazil’s squad for the World Cup.
Everton and Flamengo are also said to be sniffing around the Arsenal star’s situation.
But the Hammers have made initial inquiries and Jesus remaining in London could be an ace card.
The move clearly comes with risk for West Ham given he is making his way back from a serious injury.
It will also frustrate Hammers supporters who were imploring the club to sign a pacy, powerful striker all summer and were furious when they failed to do so on deadline day.
At 28, Jesus should still have some good years ahead of him.
West Ham would be hoping for a Jesse Lingard-esque impact which may just save their season.
While Lingard helped get the team over the line for a European place after that unforgettable January loan move, this time West Ham are turning to Jesus for salvation.
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