West Ham United have stunned everyone by submitting an offer for coveted Rennes winger Jeremy Doku, according to a report from French sports media outlet Foot Mercato.
Reports suggest that the Hammers’ initial bid for Doku was rejected – however, talks between West Ham and Rennes regarding Doku’s availability are still ongoing. Currently, Rennes are holding out for a bid of £47 million or more.
Despite this, Doku is a high-sought after talent and has been targeted by a number of high-profile clubs from across Europe. If the Irons want to seal a deal for the Belgian, they will have a fight on their hands.
West Ham will need to fend off major interest from massive clubs if they want to complete a deal for the Belgian international star. Premier League champions Manchester City are heavily linked with a move for the player, as they look to find a replacement for Saudi Arabia-bound Riyad Mahrez.
They aren’t the only one – he has also been linked with a move to Barcelona over the course of the ongoing summer transfer window. Clubs such as Newcastle United, Liverpool and Chelsea have all been reportedly interested in the 21-year-old in the past. Despite this, it is unknown if any of them are targeting him in the current transfer window.
Currently, West Ham have just three wingers in their senior team – Jarrod Bowen, Said Benrahma and Maxwel Cornet. As such, adding another wide man to their ranks should be a high priority on their list.
On the right wing, the Irons are especially sparse. Only Bowen is a natural fit for that role in their first team at the moment – due to this, the potential acquisition of Doku would not only be an eye-catching signing, it would also make perfect sense logistically.
Moreover, following the £105 million sale of now-former captain Declan Rice, the Hammers have plenty of money to spare – therefore, even an expensive plater such as Doku should be within their price range.