West Ham failed with a bid for Porto ace Zaidu Sanusi on transfer deadline day according to a report from Record (print edition September 6th, page 9).
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Hammers boss David Moyes was clearly keen to bolster his left-back ranks at the London Stadium in the summer.
The Scot obviously wanted to provide more competition and cover for West Ham stalwart Aaron Cresswell.
O Jogo (print edition, September 1st) claimed that the Hammers tried to sign Porto ace Sanusi in order to address that particular issue late on deadline day.
West Ham failed with deadline day bid for Zaidu Sanusi
Record claims that the East London outfit failed to meet Porto’s asking price for the Nigeria international, however.
The 24-year-old has a £43 million release clause inserted into his contract according to Record.
Own Goal Nigeria suggest that he would have been available for close to £17 million, however.
Sanusi would have been a great addition for West Ham.
Here’s a glimpse of what he could have offered the Hammers:
In 25 league appearances for Porto last season, the 24-year-old averaged 1.9 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and one clearance per game (Who Scored).
The Nigerian is incredibly athletic, has bundles of pace and is just as much of an asset in the final third as he is in defence.
If he enjoys a good few months between now and January, it will be no surprise to see West Ham go back in for him.
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David Moyes’s priority is still to sign a top-class centre-forward, however. So the Hammers’ alleged interest in Sanusi may well be put on the back-burner for a while yet.