West Ham ‘keenest’ to sign 18-G/A star, ‘ready’ to submit £29m bid to secure deal.
West Ham United are reportedly preparing a formal bid to sign Olympique Lyonnais forward Georges Mikautadze, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes.
The 24-year-old forward made a name for himself with standout performances for Georgia in last summer’s European Championship.
He was among the tournament’s top scorers, alongside Dani Olmo, Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala, and Cody Gakpo.
His impressive displays earned him a move to the French side, where he has enjoyed a promising debut season at Groupama Stadium.
So far, he has netted 12 goals and provided six assists in 36 appearances across all competitions.
His contributions have been crucial in his team’s push for a top-four finish in Ligue 1 and their progress to the Europa League quarter-finals.
Now, Fichajes reports that West Ham have taken notice of his performances and are prepared to make a £29 million bid to secure his services.
Mikautadze to West Ham?
Lyon are reluctant to part ways with their in-form forward but could be tempted to accept the Hammers’ offer, as it would provide them with funds to strengthen their squad.
The report also states that while other clubs are monitoring the Georgian, West Ham appear to be the ‘most determined’ to finalize a deal.
In their efforts to bolster their attack, the Hammers signed Evan Ferguson from Brighton on loan during the winter transfer window.
However, Ferguson has struggled to cement a place in Graham Potter’s starting lineup and could return to the AMEX Stadium at the end of the season.
West Ham’s current striker options—Niclas Füllkrug, Michail Antonio, and Danny Ings—are all nearing the latter stages of their careers.
Additionally, both Antonio and Ings are out of contract this summer, potentially leaving the club short on attacking options.
Mikautadze, at just 24, still has his best years ahead of him, making him a potentially smart acquisition for the East London side.
His skill set and goal-scoring ability could provide a much-needed boost to their forward line.
It remains to be seen whether West Ham will follow through on their interest and make a concrete move for the Georgian in the upcoming transfer window.
