Only one week after West Ham United completed the signings of Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe, a striker target of the recent past could be on his way to David Moyes’ Everton.
After multiple years and having expressed an interest at two different Premier League outfits, it appears that the Scot may be about to get his man at last.
West Ham reportedly made a £22 million bid for then-Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri in the summer of 2022. That was one of numerous occasions in recent times in which the spring-heeled Moroccan was seemingly identified as the man to end West Ham United’s striker curse.
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David Moyes would end up having to settle for Gianluca Scamacca instead. Three goals in 16 league games later, Scamacca was on his way back to Italy, destined to sit eternally among the pantheon of Hammers striker flops.
Three-and-a-half years later, though, Moyes could finally get his man. Fabrizio Romano reports that Everton have made a bid for En-Nesyri, now at Turkish giants Fenerbahce, with talks ongoing.
David Moyes wants to sign former West Ham United target Youssef En-Nesyri for Everton
Still only 28, En-Nesyri has been fairly prolific throughout his time in Istanbul. The two-time Europa League winner scored a career-best 30 goals in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign.
Given that Beto and Thierno Barry have scored only five league goals between them this term under Moyes, En-Nesyri is an addition that would be welcomed with open arms on the blue side of Stanley Park.
“Everton send official bid to Fenerbahce for Youssef En-Nesyri,” says Romano. “[They plan to sign him] on an initial loan with a 20 million euro [£17 million] buy option.
“Negotiations underway.”
Having spent most of the last half-decade being linked with a big-money move to England – usually with West Ham – En-Nesyri should finally now have the chance to show what all the fuss is about.
En-Nesyri turned down Premier League switch while at Sevilla
After one Hammers offer, agent Anass Ouzifi told ABC Sevilla that En-Nesyri had opted to turn down Premier League interest in order to maintain his rise to prominence in Spain.
Everton will be hoping that, heading towards the peak of his powers, En-Nesyri now feels this is an opportunity he cannot afford to miss.
“A few days ago a Premier League club called me, an important team,” Ouzifi said back in 2021, a year after Moyes was re-appointed at the London Stadium.
“They asked me what was Youssef’s situation. I told them directly that it didn’t matter, that Youssef didn’t want to leave Sevilla, that he wouldn’t. They insisted.
“I only spoke once with Youssef about this issue. I said; ‘Look, Youssef; you have an offer from England. They called me. They want to pay you more than double what you earn at Sevilla and I want to know your opinion’.
“He quickly told me ‘no, no’, to tell them that he was very happy at Sevilla and that he didn’t want to go anywhere.”
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Fortunately, with Castellanos opening his Hammers account on what was only his second appearance in claret-and-blue, Nuno Espirito Santo’s claret and blue vintage appear to have found a striker they can hang their hats upon.
Castellanos has struck up a fine understanding with Crysencio Summerville already too. The former assisted the latter to secure FA Cup progress past Queens Park Rangers.
“We know Cry’s a great player,” Taty said post-match.
“He obviously has a lot of technique. I’m also very happy for him because I know he does a great job. We’re getting to know each other little by little, along with him, [Jarrod] Bowen, Pablo and everyone in attack.
“I think this is the result of our daily work.”
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