A club has appealed to West Ham to secure their star player, amid Fulham’s pursuit of Silva.
A club has made an appeal for West Ham to secure their star player, as Fulham attempts to intervene in the potential signing of Jota Silva, a target for the Hammers.
During the summer, there was strong consideration at West Ham for appointing Fulham manager Marco Silva. David Sullivan, the majority owner of the Hammers, is reportedly an admirer of Silva. However, West Ham’s interest was dampened by a substantial compensation clause, leading Silva to remain with Fulham.
Now, Marco Silva could potentially complicate matters for West Ham. The club is currently seeking to bolster their squad with a new striker and a versatile attacker capable of playing on the left, as part of their summer rebuild. This pursuit is partly due to uncertainty surrounding Lucas Paqueta’s future and the limited striking options of aging duo Michail Antonio and Danny Ings.
One of West Ham’s primary targets this summer is Jota Silva, a compatriot of Marco Silva’s from Vitoria de Guimaraes. Portuguese outlet O Jogo reports that Fulham is now considering advancing towards signing Jota Silva, who has a release clause of £17.5 million. Financial constraints are unlikely to hinder Fulham, especially with Joao Palhinha, a former West Ham target, set to join Bayern Munich.
It appears certain that Silva anticipates a move to the Premier League, whether with West Ham or Fulham, as he has reportedly been learning English amid interest. Known for his versatility, Silva can operate effectively on the left, right, or as a central forward—a trait West Ham values, as emphasized by technical director Tim Steidten, who underscores the importance of multi-position players in modern football.
Silva concluded the previous season with impressive statistics, recording 14 goals and five assists across various competitions. West Ham is keen not to lose out to a local rival and a smaller club in the race for Silva, despite the potential advantage Fulham may have due to their Portuguese manager, who could offer Silva more stability in the long term.
In a separate development, The Mirror reports that Galatasaray has urged West Ham to sign Wilfried Zaha from them. Zaha, who turns 32 later this year, doesn’t entirely align with Steidten’s recruitment strategy focused on younger talents. Nonetheless, links between Zaha and West Ham persist, suggesting he could serve as a fallback option if Silva’s transfer doesn’t materialize.
Galatasaray is reportedly willing to sell Zaha at a reduced fee due to financial constraints, potentially even releasing him as a free agent. Zaha is aware that a return to the Premier League would likely entail a significant salary reduction, given his current wage situation in Turkey.
If West Ham fails to secure Silva’s signature, they may pivot towards Zaha, especially if Galatasaray proceeds with plans to release him. This scenario underscores West Ham’s proactive approach in the transfer market, as they aim to strengthen their squad ahead of the upcoming season.
