West Ham are reportedly on the hunt for a younger striker with pace and Tammy Abraham may be the solution it seems.
West Ham announced their eighth signing of the summer in the shape of Aaron Wan-Bissaka this week.
And the Hammers are already working on further deals.
That will only be possible if West Ham can offload two or three players – in addition to big earner Kurt Zouma – in the coming weeks.
The Hammers have been locked in on-off negotiations with Villa over the signing of striker Jhon Duran for the last month or so.
But technical director Tim Steidten and boss Julen Lopetegui turned to veteran forward Niclas Fullkrug as an alternative.
Speculation has been rife that West Ham could end up signing Fullkrug and another, younger forward who has pace.
Hammers hunting a younger, pacy forward
Top sources inside the club have confirmed West Ham could yet make as many as three more signings – if at least three current players can be moved on.
Fullkrug has had serious knee injury issues in the past.
And there are fears West Ham lack depth up front with the club keen to move Danny Ings out and Michail Antonio – who is injury-prone – turning 35 next season.
Any deal West Ham do, regardless of how much is brought in through any sales before August 30th, would likely be a loan with obligation or option.
Duran is not the only striker being linked with a move to the London Stadium before the deadline.
There have been consistent links to longstanding Hammers target Tammy Abraham too.
West Ham were interested in Abraham when he was at Chelsea.
But the Blues wanted too much money for him and he joined Roma instead.
Well West Ham are now ‘just one step’ from signing Abraham claims new reports in Italy.
West Ham now ‘just one step’ from signing Abraham
La Gazzetta dello Sport claims West Ham are planning to sign another centre forward.
And the site reports the Hammers have turned to Abraham after failing to agree a deal with Villa for Duran.
Not only that, journalist Andrea Pugliese claims Roma want to sell, Abraham is already thinking about the move.
All that remains, it is claimed, is for West Ham to make an official offer meeting their £21m plus add-ons valuation – or equivalent – and it will be accepted.
It is stated that Roma will readily accept a bid meeting that kind of fee as they want to have the money coming in to spend on their own targets.
“After trying for a long time with John Duran, the Colombian from Aston Villa, in London they are turning to Abraham, to have a pair of attackers who can make them forget the disappointments of last year (9th place in the Premier League),” the report states.
Formal offer the last step in potential West Ham deal with Roma
“Roma values Abraham at 30 million euros (£25.5m), but if an offer of 25+5 (£21m plus £4m) were to arrive they would certainly take him into consideration.
“And with that money he could complete the squad to be made available to De Rossi. After all, among the “sellable” players Abraham is the one who can bring the most liquidity into the Giallorossi coffers…
“And then if West Ham were to really come forward, Trigoria would have the money to close other deals (although it would be necessary to look for a reserve centre-forward, but perhaps this could arrive on loan).”
Whether Roma would accept a loan with obligation or option – similar to the deal West Ham did with Nice for Jean-Clair Todibo – remains to be seen.
But it seems this could certainly be one to watch in the final two weeks of the window for Hammers fans as last minute deals are done.
The biggest problem for West Ham will be whether they can offload Ings.
Journalist Graeme Bailey has revealed West Ham are keen on a striker but Ings is refusing to leave.
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