EXCLUSIVE: West Ham can finally get their man as a transfer insider shares the name of the prime target on Julen Lopetegui’s hit list.
West Ham need a major squad overhaul this summer, that much has been clear for some time.
The Premier League’s joint smallest and second oldest squad has been creaking in the second half of the season.
That is borne out by the fact the Hammers have won just four of their 23 games in 2024.
Ask any West Ham fan where incoming new boss Julen Lopetegui needs to strengthen most, though, and the majority will say the same.
Up front.
David Moyes sold Ginaluca Scamacca after just one season last summer. The Scot did not replace him, experimenting with Jarrod Bowen as a striker instead.
That has had mixed results with Bowen offering more to the team in his preferred role off the right.
Lopetegui has new striker on transfer wish list
Michail Antonio has rediscovered some form of late. But he turns 35 next season and while he will be a more than useful squad player for West Ham next term, Lopetegui surely needs to go in search of a new forward.
Particularly as things just haven’t worked out for ageing Danny Ings.
The good news is Lopetegui clearly feels the same as the fans in terms of wanting a bonafide new forward.
It was revealed back in February that Lopetegui has a list of four top La Liga stars which he has been presenting to prospective new clubs in interviews.
It was claimed the 57-year-old former Real Madrid and Sevilla boss is insisting on being backed for those players as a minimum requirement.
Well now we can shed some light on one of the names on that list.
Transfer insider: En-Nesyri is prime target on Lopetegui’s list
West Ham can finally get their man as transfer insider shares name of prime target on Lopetegui’s hit list.
It has been exclusively revealed to Hammers News by a transfer insider with knowledge of Lopetegui’s targets that longstanding target Youssef En-Nesyri is that man.
En-Nesyri has been linked with West Ham in every single window over the last few years.
The Moroccan striker played under Lopetegui at Sevilla.
And we have been told the 26-year-old is the striker Lopetegui wants West Ham to sign for him this summer.
Given West Ham have already been trying to sign En-Nesyri for some time, there is an immediate meeting of minds on that particular deal.
‘He is one of his favourite players’
With Sevilla struggling, both in terms of league position and finances, we are told there is confidence a deal could finally be done.
“West Ham are back on the trail of Youssef En-Nesyri,” a transfer insider close to the situation told Hammers News.
“He is one of Lopetegui’s favourite players.
“The Hammers like him having been scouting him for so long. I expect this news to be out there soon anyway but he is the striker on the list.”
We are also reliably informed En-Nesyri has great respect for Lopetegui, under whom he has played some of the best football of his career.
How has En-Nesyri performed this season for Sevilla?
Impressive record despite Sevilla struggles
He missed some games while at AFCON with Morocco but still has an excellent goal record of one in every two.
En-Nesyri has scored 15 goals in 30 starts for Sevilla in La Liga and the Champions League this season.
Thirteen of those came in the league with two in Europe.
He has an average match rating of just under 7/10 and has been voted Sevilla’s man of the match on four occasions.
As West Ham fans will know the striker has fantastic pace and is brilliant in the air.
If Lopetegui can find a role for James Ward-Prowse where he offers more to the team in game then with his set-pieces, En-Nesyri could be lethal up top for West Ham.
This is exciting news given Lopetegui would not have joined the club had he not received assurances he would be backed in moves for En-Nesyri and the other names on his list.
With at least eight-10 signings required this summer, Tim Steidten will clearly lead recruitment on the majority of targets.
But Lopetegui, we are told, has been told the club will back him with moves for the names on his shortlist too.
Exciting times ahead it seems.