West Ham are set to trump a Chelsea bid for an exciting Ligue 1 striker ‘within hours’ after Lucas Paqueta killed their last attempt.
There’s no love lost between West Ham and Chelsea.
But the London rivals have shared a fair few column inches during this summer transfer window.
The Hammers have been linked with five Chelsea players who face uncertain futures at Stamford Bridge.
Last month a journalist made an astonishing claim that Chelsea wanted to offload Raheem Sterling to West Ham.
With a host of signings needed as part of Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten’s big Hammers rebuild, it is perhaps no surprise other Blues outcasts have been linked with moves to the London Stadium too.
West Ham are said to have Trevoh Chalobah on a list of centre-back targets.
West Ham to trump Chelsea bid for exciting star ‘within hours’
Chelsea strikers Armando Broja and David Datro Fofana have both recently been linked with the Hammers too.
Another longstanding West Ham target, Conor Gallagher, remains for sale at Chelsea but is expected to join Atletico Madrid.
West Ham hijacked Chelsea’s plans to sign striker Jhon Duran but have been unable to agree a deal with Aston Villa.
Now the Hammers have switched their attentions to another Blues target.
Paqueta killed West Ham’s last attempt to sign Wahi
In fact West Ham are set to trump a Chelsea bid for an exciting Ligue 1 striker ‘within hours’.
According to French outlet L’Equipe, the Hammers are preparing to submit a bid for Lens forward Elye Wahi.
If West Ham fans think the name sounds familiar then that’s with good reason.
Because Steidten was heavily linked with a move to sign Wahi last summer when he was at Montpellier.
Chelsea were also interested then but the Hammers looked to have won the race for the fleet-footed 21-year-old.
But the West Ham move collapsed because of illegal betting accusations which emerged against Lucas Paqueta.
That put paid to the Brazilian’s £85m move to Man City and stopped the Hammers signing Cole Palmer – who went to Chelsea instead – and Wahi, who joined Lens.
Now West Ham are set to try again with a new bid being launched today according to the report.
Chelsea have already registered their interest in signing Wahi. And it is claimed Premier League rivals Leicester are also interested.
Chelsea, Hammers and Foxes in the running
“There are now three clubs negotiating to bring in the striker,” L’Equipe reports.
“We knew that Chelsea had positioned themselves , it is now West Ham and Leicester who have started the process to secure the signing of the international hopeful.
“The outlines of a first offer (from West Ham) addressed to Lens must be defined in the coming hours.”
West Ham are in desperate need of a striker.
And they have one major advantage over Chelsea in the move for Wahi – game time.
The Blues have the most bloated squad in Europe and game time would be difficult to come by for Wahi at Stamford Bridge.
At West Ham, though, he would be a guaranteed starter as the club’s new number one forward.
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