West Ham United’s hopes of a second deal with Arsenal have been boosted as rival bidders struggle in the race for electric star Folarin Balogun.
With the futures of Michail Antonio and Gianluca Scamacca uncertain, West Ham have been linked with a host of strikers in the summer transfer window.
West Ham are yet to sign a single player this summer, one of only three Premier League clubs yet to welcome any new arrivals.
That looks set to change after Arsenal finally completed the £105m signing of Declan Rice at the weekend.
The first tranche of money from Arsenal is just over £33m. But in reality that translates to a transfer budget of around £133m for the Hammers – here’s how.
After allegedly missing out on Viktor Gyokeres to Sporting, West Ham have been linked with a move for Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun.
West Ham hopes of second deal with Arsenal boosted as rival bidders struggle in race for electric star Folarin Balogun
The 22-year-old US international spent last season on loan under West Ham fan Will Still at Reims – scoring 22 goals in 39 appearances.
According to the likes of Football.London, West Ham are showing genuine interest in bringing Balogun to the London Stadium from Arsenal.
The trouble for David Moyes is that a host of other clubs have been linked with serious interest in the Brooklyn-born star too.
But West Ham hopes of a second deal with Arsenal have been boosted as rival bidders struggle in the race for electric star Balogun.
The Daily Mail and Sky Sports are reporting that Inter Milan are considering rivalling West Ham with a move for Balogun.
It comes after Inter decided not to make Romelu Lukaku’s loan from Chelsea permanent.
Inter want West Ham target but can’t get near Arsenal asking price
The good news for West Ham, though, is that they are struggling to get anywhere near Arsenal’s reported £50m asking price.
That kind of fee would likely be too steep for the Hammers as well.
But channels of communication between Arsenal and West Ham are now well established since the Rice move. And The Sun recently claimed Arsenal could settle for around £35 million from West Ham for the exciting, pacy forward.
With Arsenal indebted to West Ham for another £66.5m over the next 24 months following the first payment for Rice, there would be ways and means for the Hammers to negotiate payments for Balogun to be offset against that should it be necessary.
And with Inter – like most Italian clubs – struggling to compete with Premier League sides financially, it would surely give West Ham the edge for Balogun should Moyes press home his alleged interest.
Speaking at the weekend, the Scot said his ‘full focus’ is now on adding to his squad following Rice’s sale to the Gunners.
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