There has been a major development in West Ham’s hopes of signing striker Terem Moffi according to French publication L’Equipe.
West Ham fans are well used to their transfer moves turning into sagas. And it seems we have another one on our hands in the pursuit of exciting Lorient forward Moffi.
There have been a number of twists and turns so far as West Ham try to sign the second top scorer in Ligue 1. So bear with us while we recap.
The Hammers are desperate to add goals to the team while they have the chance in the January transfer window.
Danny Ings has arrived but, as reported last week on Hammers News, that will not impact West Ham’s desire to bring in rapid Nigerian striker Moffi as well.
Journalist Alan Nixon has claimed West Ham’s reported £20m plus move for Moffi was now ‘all down to wages’.
A French journalist had claimed Moffi had chosen to sign for Nice over West Ham.
But then there was an unexpected twist in the battle between the Hammers and Nice with the French club looking set to sign David Moyes target Youssef En-Nesyri instead after he snubbed West Ham earlier this month.
There was a clear indication that Moffi is out on his way out Lorient this weekend when it was left out of their squad to face Bastia.
Still with us?
There was excitement for Hammers fans when French publication Mercato Plein reported over the weekend that a deal had been done between Lorient and West Ham at €24 million (£21 million).
Then Lorient manager Regis Le Bris admitted Moffi is unsettled by the speculation swirling around his future amid West Ham’s interest.
Now there has been a major development in West Ham’s hopes of signing striker Moffi according to French publication L’Equipe.
Because L’Équipe claim that Marseille are now rivalling West Ham for Moffi and are already working on a deal with Lorient and the player’s entourage.
Worse still for West Ham, L’Équipe have doubled down on previous claims from the likes of France Ouest that Moffi’s preference is to remain in France rather than move to England.
It had looked like West Ham would get a free run at Moffi with Nice bringing in En-Nesyri. But Marseille entering the equation could prove fatal for Moyes’ hopes.
And it’s bad news because nobody should be fooled by West Ham’s win over Everton at the weekend. The Hammers are still right in the thick of this relegation battle and while it was an improved performance, they were fortunate to be up against a woeful Toffees side.
If the Moffi deal is not to be then West Ham must move on very quickly to ensure they get someone else in with pace and power.