West Ham are weighing up a potential summer swoop for Norwich City playmaker Emiliano Buendia, according to reports in England.
The Argentine is being lined up as a potential alternative for Jesse Lingard if the Hammers are not able to sign the Manchester United loanee on a permanent basis.
Buendia would appear to be a great option, considering he has scored 14 goals and contributed 17 assists in 40 appearances this season, but there are a couple of complications.
Arsenal are reportedly in the mix to sign the 24-year-old, while Norwich may demand as much as £40m for the player. The midfielder’s price tag, combined with the competition for his signature, have led many fans on Twitter to treat the transfer story with some scepticism:
Yes yes yes (if we don’t get lingz)
— C⚒ (@consmith26) May 2, 2021
No chance
— A77 (@77azulgrana_) May 2, 2021
Only needed if we dont keep Lingard. Abraham, CB, GK, LB all higher priorities for me
— Harrison Tuckwell (@HarrisonTuckwe1) May 2, 2021
Our owners are GSB did you forget
— ⚒Kev⚒ (@19cockneyman81) May 2, 2021
Only really an option if we don’t get Lingard. Great player but would be a waste of funds with other priority positions
— Michael ⚒ Zdenek (@MichaelZdenek) May 2, 2021
Can imagine Moyes offering Benrahma and £5m or something
— Iron85 (@irons85858585) May 2, 2021
West Ham will be linked with another 500 players between now and the end of the transfer window.
— DICANIO10 (@Lord_Irons) May 2, 2021
Another attacking playmaker from the championship we can attempt to ruin, why not
— Sam (@samharding_93) May 2, 2021
No better then Bowen
— Jude White (@Judewhite05) May 2, 2021
West Ham were first linked with Buendia in March last year so there is no doubt that he has been tracked for a long time, but the cost of the transfer would almost certainly rule David Moyes’ side out of the running unless the Irons can raise funds through player sales.