Insiders claim West Ham double signing announcement is imminent

West Ham United are set to make a double signing announcement imminently.

Club tell West Ham they must sign their striker TODAY or forget it – report

That’s according to West Ham insiders Claret & Hugh.

The Hammers are expected to announce the permanent signing of exciting playmaker Said Benrahma in a deal totalling around £25million.

And West Ham will also announce the now widely reported loan capture of Jesse Lingard from Manchester United.

Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images

West Ham set to make double announcement imminently – insiders

Lingard himself has confirmed the move in an Instagram post.

And Claret & Hugh claim he will be unveiled today alongside confirmation that Benrahma’s deal has been made permanent – a formality necessary to free up the domestic loan spot for Lingard.

“The move is likely to be confirmed on Friday, following hot on the heels of the permanent deal for Said Benrahma,” Claret & Hugh reports.

Elsewhere West Ham are also believed to be continuing their hunt for a striker.

1. FC Nürnberg v RB Leipzig - DFB Cup: First Round — Photo by TF Images/Getty Images

Moyes continues striker hunt but Hwang looks to have been ruled out

One player the Hammers had looked set to sign was Hee-Chan Hwang of Red Bull Leipzig (Sky Sports).

But that now looks unlikely after his manager Julian Nagelsmann said he would only allow the South Korean to leave if he signs two more strikers.

That’s despite Hwang asking to leave the club.

Julian Nagelsmann denies that Hwang Hee-chan will leave RB Leipzig for West Ham: "Unless we get two more strikers, which I don't think we will, it doesn't make sense at all to give him away. Not from his point of view and not from ours either." #RBL #WHUFC
— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) January 28, 2021

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Nagelsmann contd: “I understand why Hwang requested a transfer. But I need to see more of Hwang's training. He did not have much time to develop himself through his training, and he did not show his worth. He had a difficult time with coronavirus."
— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) January 28, 2021

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David Moyes only has Michail Antonio to call on a senior striker.

Crystal Palace v West Ham United - Premier League — Photo by John Walton – Pool/Getty Images

Time ticking for crucial signing that can keep European quest on track

And Antonio’s injury issues are well documented. As brilliant as the former non-league player has been for West Ham, even he has only recently been converted into a striker by Moyes.

Andriy Yarmolenko can do a job of sorts filling in as emergency back-up.

But in truth the Ukraine star lacks the pace and power needed to make an impact up front in the Premier League.

Moyes has young starlet Mipo Odubeko to call on. But he too is injury-prone and is untested in senior football.

With West Ham pushing for Europe, the club must surely do everything in their power to sign a striker.

Time is running out, though. Moyes has until 11pm on Monday February 1st to get a deal done.

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