A Euro football expert has claimed West Ham had a deal agreed to sign a striker who went elsewhere for £30m Lucas Paqueta had left.
West Ham were linked with a plethora of strikers from across the globe during the summer transfer window.
Hammers targets included Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri, PSG’s Hugo Ekitike, Brazilian Yuri Alberto and Feyenoord’s Mexican forward Santiago Gimenez to name but a few.
In the end deadline day came and went without the Hammers adding a striker to their four superb signings of the window.
But another target West Ham were heavily linked with last month would have signed in different circumstances it seems.
Euro football expert claims West Ham had deal agreed to sign striker who went elsewhere for £30m if Lucas Paqueta left
Euro football expert claims West Ham had a deal agreed to sign a striker who went elsewhere for £30m if Lucas Paqueta left.
Andy Brassell is an english writer and broadcaster who specialises in European football and works as a pundit for the likes of Sky Sports, TNT and talkSPORT.
And he claims West Ham had a deal lined up and ready to go for French forward Elye Wahi before Paqueta’s move to Man City collapsed due to betting allegations.
West Ham had been heavily linked with a move for Wahi when he was at Monpellier and the player wanted to join.
Most Hammers fans would have chosen keeping Paqueta over signing a new striker – but will club regret not doing both?
But in the end Paqueta remained at West Ham and Wahi was sold to Lens for £30m instead.
Speaking on Sky Sports News when assessing transfer window business, Brassell made the claim.
“West Ham would have signed the striker Elye Wahi,” Brassell said.
“The deal was all lined up and he would have joined had Paqueta been sold.”
As we reported earlier, a journalist in France claimed overnight that West Ham also tried with a last ditch bid to sign another striker but left it too late to negotiate a deal.
Whether West Ham live to regret not signing a striker remains to be seen.
The club are set for another 50 game plus season over land and sea and have just Michail Antonio, Danny Ings and young forward Divin Mubama as bonafide striker options.
Although Jarrd Bowen, Mohammed Kudus and Jesse Lingard – should be join – can all play up front or as s second striker.