Are West Ham United the mystery Premier League club that has bid £19m for 200-goal Barca striker Memphis Depay?
It is one of football’s worst kept secrets that David Moyes is desperate to bring a striker to West Ham.
The Scot has been trying, without success, to find the right forward for the last three transfer windows.
Sebastien Haller has even moved clubs before West Ham have managed to replace him.
Armando Broja is said to be West Ham’s prime striker target this summer. But it is still not known whether Chelsea will sell the talented young Albanian.
Another striker linked with West Ham under Moyes is Barcelona’s stop gap forward Memphis Depay.
A report from SPORT in mid-May claimed Hammers manager Moyes wants to bring the 80-capped Holland international to the London Stadium this summer.
Depay still has plenty to offer and has a brilliant international record of 42 goals in his 80 appearances.
The 28-year-old is surplus to requirements at Barcelona under Xavi, who is trying to add Robert Lewandowski to his side to add to the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres.
According to a translated claim from Spanish journalist Gerard Romero a “low ranked Premier League side” has made a bid of €23m (£19m) for Depay (Yahoo Sport and Football Transfers).
“Low ranked” may not necessarily mean a bottom half club – just perhaps one not in the Champions League places or established English elite.
So are West Ham the mystery Premier League club that has bid £19m for 200-goal Barca striker Memphis Depay?
Depay failed to establish himself when signed by Manchester United and was moved on to Lyon.
But the Dutch forward has still managed over 200 goals for his clubs and country during his career.
Given West Ham’s reported interest in Depay and Moyes’ clear need for a versatile forward, it is reasonable to think the Hammers could be the mystery Prem club that are in for him.
At 28 Depay may not fit Moyes’ Red Bull model to a tee. But that hasn’t stopped the manager relentlessly chasing 29-year-old Jesse Lingard.
In an ideal world West Ham would sign a talented young, up-and-coming striker like Broja.
But why can’t the Hammers get both?
Moyes certainly needs more options going forward and West Ham are said to be willing to sell both Said Benrahma and Nikola Vlasic should offers arrive.
At £19m Depay represents proven quality for a very low fee. West Ham need at least one new striker if not two and Depay would be a quality addition.
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