West Ham manager David Moyes has cooled his interest in Chelsea striker Armando Broja, according to the Claret & Hugh.
The insiders quote a source within the club that says the Hammers boss “is not as keen” as he once was in pursuing the Albanian international’s signature.
Broja was the subject of a £30m bid from West Ham during the 2022 summer transfer window but he ended up staying at Stamford Bridge and signing a new long-term contract.
Since then, the forward has sustained a serious knee injury and he hasn’t looked the same player following his return to full fitness earlier this season.
Will West Ham target another striker?
Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy is said to be the forward that the Irons would like to sign if the London club can beat the competition for the Guinean international’s services.
The Bundesliga star has a £15m release clause in his contract which can be triggered this month. However, after scoring 19 goals in all competitions this campaign, he is a player in demand.
Ironically, Chelsea are believed to be one of the other teams who could target Guirassy, along with the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle.
Are other options being looked at by Moyes?
While Guirassy appears to be the manager’s preference, West Ham have also been keeping tabs on several alternatives, including Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke and Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez.
However, the main issue is the cost of these deals. It is believed that Solanke’s price tag is above £50m, while Gimenez’s valuation is thought to be only slightly below that figure, which means Guirassy is very much the best value for money on their shortlist.
In terms of Broja, a move for the Albanian could be reconsidered in the future but, for this transfer window, the Hammers are not expected to make an offer.