Southampton believe they can sign prime West Ham target Adam Armstrong for half the price – report

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West Ham United have been heavily linked with a £20m move for striker Adam Armstrong but now Southampton believe they can get him for half the price.

David Moyes is desperate to sign at least one new forward this summer.

The Scot decided to sell Sebastien Haller to Ajax in January and bank the £20million to bring his own man to West Ham in this transfer window.

West Ham have been linked with a host of forwards including Southampton’s Danny Ings.

West Ham long linked with move for Blackburn forward Armstrong

Another is Blackburn Rovers striker Adam Armstrong.

West Ham have been linked with Armstrong for some time and were reported to be considering a bid back in January.

The likes of The Lancashire Telegraph have claimed West Ham remain keen on Armstrong, who scored 29 goals in 43 games for Blackburn last season.

Hammers insider ExWHUemployee has backed up those claims on The West Ham Way podcast last month.

Various fees have been quoted with a figure of £20m generally considered to be Blackburn’s asking price.

Saints believe they can snare Hammers target for half the price

But now a new report has claimed Southampton believe they can get Armstrong – who like Ings is out of contract next summer – for half the price.

According to Lancs Live, Southampton have made an opening bid and believe they can get the West Ham target for less than Rovers’s £20m valuation.

“While the value of their opening bid remains undetermined, it’s understood to have fell way below Rovers’ valuation, with the club holding out on their £20 million valuation of Armstrong,” Lancs Live reports.

“Given the awkward contractual predicament Rovers find themselves in – Armstrong’s current contract expires next summer, although a new deal remains on the table – the club may budge on their valuation as the window progresses and Rovers are anticipating Southampton to return with an improved offer for his services.”

Does Southampton bid suggest Ings – another West Ham target – will be sold?

Southampton FC Updates also claimed the Saints were seriously rivalling West Ham for the ex Newcastle man.

They believe a bid of £10m plus add-ons could be enough to beat the Hammers to the punch for the 24-year-old.

West Ham have already missed on on a number of supposed transfer targets so far this summer.

But assistant manager Stuart Pearce claims the transfer speculation he has seen so far has been ‘way off’ the truth.

Perhaps Southampton’s move for Armstrong is a sure sign they will cash in on West Ham target Ings after he rejected a new deal at the club.

So there could be something of a transfer triangle brewing between West Ham, Southampton and Blackburn?

In other West Ham news, Hammers skipper Mark Noble has called on the club to make signings.