View: West Ham’s Transfer Pursuit Likely Over After Romano’s Update

Danny Ings and Michail Antonio are the current strikers for the Hammers, but both struggled with form last season. Despite being key players in the Hammers’ attack, they failed to score a combined total of 10 goals.

Given this situation and the potential departure of Antonio this summer, securing a new number nine should be a top priority for Julen Lopetegui. This focus has been evident throughout the transfer window, with players like Tammy Abraham, Ivan Toney, and Youssef En-Nesyri being linked to a move to London Stadium [Mundo Deportivo, 3 July].

En-Nesyri, in particular, was strongly associated with West Ham at the start of the window, as he entered the final year of his contract with Sevilla. However, these rumors have since dwindled. A recent update from Fabrizio Romano indicates that West Ham’s pursuit of En-Nesyri has effectively ended.

Romano reported on 21 July via X that Fenerbahce had agreed on a fee around £16.8 million for En-Nesyri, and they are currently negotiating his personal terms. While losing out on En-Nesyri is a setback for West Ham, there are still several other options available.

In recent days, Matias Soule has been linked with a transfer to the London Stadium. Similarly, Alexis Saelemaekers is reportedly available for a fee of approximately £16.8 million [Calcio Mercato, 21 July].

Although neither Soule nor Saelemaekers are traditional number nines, both can be deployed in that position if necessary.

There remain ample options for Julen Lopetegui, and it is likely that West Ham will see attacking reinforcements arriving soon.