West Ham are now “unlikely” to sign Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy this summer, according to insider ExWHUEmployee.
Speaking on the West Ham Way Podcast (quotes via their website), Ex said that competition for the Guinean international’s signature is too fierce:
“We want to sign a new forward and there are plenty of options on that plate. Serhou Guirassy has always been a top target but it appears the likes of Dortmund and Manchester United are in the mix which makes that transfer unlikely.”
In addition to the clubs mentioned by Ex, the likes of AC Milan, Chelsea and Arsenal have been linked with Guirassy in German media reports over the weekend.
The sheer amount of interest in Guirassy is not that surprising. The 28-year-old scored 30 goals in all competitions last season and he is said to have an €18m (£15m) release clause in his contract.
West Ham are targeting 5 other forwards
It is believed that the Hammers are also interested in Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri, Atletico Madrid’s Samu Omorodion, Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface, Toulouse’s Thijs Dallinga and Cercle Brugge’s Kevin Denkey.
En-Nesryi is the favourite out of those options, simply because manager Julen Lopetegui has worked with him before and the Moroccan is closing in on the final 12 months of his contract at Sevilla.
A bid for one striker has already been rejected
On Saturday, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed reports from Spain that West Ham did make a €35m (£29.6m) offer for Omorodion “two weeks ago”.
The Spaniard scored 9 goals for Alaves on a loan spell last season but it is a surprising sum to pay for someone who is still relatively inexperienced.
En-Nesryi, in contrast, scored 20 times in all competitions for Sevilla last campaign and would probably be available for a lower amount due to his contract situation. We shall see which player technical director Tim Steidten ends up pursuing.
