West Ham: Algerian winger chased; Odegaard move rushed; West Brom bid for striker

By Sam Leveridge

West Ham could challenge Everton in a race for Lyon’s Algerian winger Rachid Ghezzal. The 24-year-old’s contract expires next summer and although he has expressed a desire to stay in France at his current club this transfer window, the side may be forced to sell to cash in on a bright young talent. The Daily Mail claim that while no bid has been made yet, there is an interest from the Hammers.

HITC claim that a bid worth over £6 million has been made for the man who scored 10 and assisted 9 goals in 38 games last season. That would represent good value for money for a young player who scores goals and creates them, much like his international teammate Riyad Mahrez, and he also has Champions League experience having competed in Europe’s elite competition last season, and the Europa League the two seasons before, which would be attractive for West Ham as they seek to add European experience to their team.

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Left out of a return to his native Norway for Real Madrid’s European Super Cup tie last night, it is believed that a loan move for Martin Odegaard may be rushed through this week. The Daily Mail claim that with the Spanish side expecting to see their appeal to a transfer ban rejected this week, they want to loan the 17-year-old out before the ban is imposed and they can no longer register him as a first team player.

West Ham face stiff competition from the likes of Liverpool, Bayer Leverkusen and Hamburg, but are believed to be leading the race to sign the youngster as they are prepared to offer more first team football than the other options can offer him as he seeks a break to prove that he does have the qualities to succeed at the current Champions League holders.

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Following news that West Brom would not be signing wantaway forward Diafra Sakho,  the Sun now report that they will target another West Ham striker; Enner Valencia. The Ecuadorian has seen his game time decrease ever since his £12 million move from Mexico, and the arrival of Jonathan Calleri and Andre Ayew will only force him further down the list of options for Bilic despite figuring in pre-season for the side.

This will be key for the Baggies, who are urgently seeking to bring in someone to replace Saido Berahino to allow him to depart, but have insisted that any singing must be match fit, which provided an obstacle in the move for Sakho. As Valencia has featured in both friendlies and Europa League ties for West Ham, it seems that he fits the bill. Whilst not prolific, he has the pace and penetrative power that Tony Pulis is said to be looking for.

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The news comes as the Hammers look set to miss out on Liverpool’s Christian Benteke, as expected, as Crystal Palace prepare to meet the Merseyside clubs demands for the Belgian, claim the Essex Chronicle. Whilst the demanded transfer fee was believed to be too high for the Irons, Palace are now happy to meet it thanks to other incoming fees.

Benteke was once seen as the ideal solution to Slaven Bilic’s striker headache as a strong and physical forward with a proven record in the Premier League, but both his transfer fee and wages were too high for the club as they move into the Olympic Stadium and look to add strength in depth rather than just one star man.

Featured Image: All rights reserved by Ronan Caroff.