West Ham have been linked with new striker bid this evening and Crystal Palace will be delighted if it’s true.
West Ham and Crystal Palace have just faced off in the Premier League.
Now the Hammers and Eagles are about to face off in the transfer market too it seems.
The Julen Lopetegui era has lift-off after Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen secured a 2-0 win for West Ham at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The scoreline could have been very different, though.
Palace wasted two one-on-ones and hit the bar and the post as they made it two defeats from two so far in the new Premier League season.
West Ham linked with new striker bid
So it is clear Oliver Glasner could do with new forward options at Crystal Palace – especially having sold Michael Olise and Jordan Ayew.
West Ham are also said to be in the market for a younger, pacy striker to compete with veteran Niclas Fullkrug.
The likes of Jhon Duran and Tammy Abraham have both been linked with West Ham.
But having beaten Crystal Palace on the pitch, now the Hammers want to beat them in the transfer window.
Because West Ham are being linked with new striker bid and Crystal Palace will be delighted if it’s true.
Crystal Palace will be delighted if Bailey claim is true
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, West Ham are considering paying off Danny Ings to terminate his contract early.
That’s so they can free up space in the squad and wage bill for a new forward with Crystal Palace target Eddie Nketiah in their sights.
Lopetegui has publicly stated he wants two players in every position. The Spaniard has also made it clear West Ham are not done yet in the window.
A top spokesman inside the club told Hammers News today West Ham are working one more than one potential signing before deadline.
But in a further exclusive update this evening the top Hammers contact revealed arrivals will be late in the window and the chances are ‘less than 50/50’.
Bailey reckons West Ham are now rivalling Palace to do a deal with Arsenal for Nketiah.
The report says Palace-linked Nketiah is being considered by the Hammers as an alternative to Abraham.
It comes after years of the Gunners forward being linked with a move to east London.
Nketiah has seen a £30m move to Nottingham Forest collapse despite agreeing terms with the Premier League side.
Music to the ears of Palace?
Now Crystal Palace want the 25-year-old. But Bailey says West Ham have now entered the running too.
“With Arsenal willing to sell if their £30million asking price is met, West Ham are now weighing up a move if they can clear Ings’ hefty wages from their books,” Bailey told TBR.
That will be music to the ears of Crystal Palace fans.
The prospect of signing Nketiah has gone down like a lead balloon among many Eagles supporters on social media.
And it’s easy to see why.
Nketiah has scored just 19 goals in 116 appearances for Arsenal.
That’s only three more than Jean-Philippe Mateta manager in one season last year.
Nketiah scored just five times in 27 appearances last season – albeit mostly as a substitute.
It’s difficult to see where Nketiah would get into the West Ham side. He would be restricted to the bench at best.
At Palace he may face a similar fate if Mateta hits form.
It may be that fans of the club who misses out on the Gunners forward will be happiest in this particular deal.
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