A manager has spoken out on the future of his star Terem Moffi after a reported ‘accepted’ bid from West Ham.
Nobody at West Ham will be fooled into thinking the club is out of the woods following the nervy 2-0 win over relegation rivals Everton.
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 earlier this week on Hammers News, that will not impact the West Ham’s desire to bring in rapid Lorient forward 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 there has been 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.
Now their manager has spoken out on the future of his star Moffi after an ‘accepted’ bid from West Ham.
French publication Mercato Plein are reporting overnight that a deal has been done between Lorient and West Ham at €24 million (£21 million).
Now Lorient manager Regis Le Bris has admitted Moffi is unsettled by the speculation swirling around his future.
He insisted the 23-year-old Nigerian’s absence from his squad was genuinely due to illness. But conceded the player has been ‘psychologically affected’ by talk of a move to West Ham.
Speaking to L’Equipe, Le Bris stated: “There is a reality, there is this little virus, and it is a somewhat disturbing period for him.
“But I think he will be back for Rennes and that he will resume training at the start of the week…
“(But) we have (other) centre-forwards and it’s good that they can express themselves in a competitive context.”
It sounds promising from West Ham’s point of view, particularly with Nice signing En-Nesyri instead.
Now the Hammers have to hope they can persuade Moffi a move to the London Stadium is the right next step for his career.