Striker Darwin Nunez has issued a statement over an agent change after his failed West Ham move as Fabrizio Romano explains why.
Signing a quality striker is right at the top of the agenda for both David Moyes at West Ham this summer.
Moyes has Michail Antonio as West Ham’s only serious senior striker option and has failed to get a forward signed in the last two and a half windows.
That has to change this summer and West Ham dropped a massive hint about the man they want when they tried but failed to buy Darwin Nunez from Benfica in January (90 min and Sky Sports).
The Portuguese club were said to be willing to do business with West Ham at a set price. But the move was complicated by agents according to previous reports.
Speculation has been rife since that West Ham will move again for the Uruguayan when the summer window opens in June.
The Evening Standard report that Nunez is Moyes’s prime target this summer.
And West Ham’s chances of getting a deal done may have been given a major boost.
Because Nunez has issued a statement over an agent change after the failed West Ham move and Fabrizio Romano explains why.
Rumours have been circulating this week that Nunez had fallen out with Edgardo Lasalvia. The player has turned to social media to clarify the speculation.
And Nunez has announced he is cutting ties with his current agent and will be represented by an associate of super agent Jorge Mendes instead.
“I want to clarify that I will not renew my contract with my representative Edgardo Lasalvia,” Nunez announced after West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals last night.
“I also want to clarify that neither my family nor I have received any threats and we are fine.”
Following the announcement, transfer reporter Romano suggested it is a result of the Benfica striker’s failed West Ham move. Romano also claims the agent change is a clear indication Nunez intends to leave Benfica in the summer.
“Darwin Nunez official statement: he’s gonna leave his current agent and he’s reportedly going to sign with a new representative close to Jorge Mendes,” Romano said on Twitter last night.
“Many top clubs want him – Benfica turned down €45m(£37m) bid from West Ham on deadline day in January.”
The intriguing announcement comes after respected European football expert Andy Brassell claimed this week that he can see Nunez moving to West Ham this summer (talkSPORT).