West Ham United have put forth a £25 million offer for a new striker and are preparing to engage in talks with his agents.
### New Forward Wanted at West Ham
The Hammers, along with technical director Tim Steidten, have already secured three summer signings for new manager Julen Lopetegui but are aiming for further additions at the London Stadium.
Steidten indicated a busy summer transfer window earlier in the month during Lopetegui’s first press conference as West Ham boss. He stated, “I can’t tell you specifics, but it will be a busy summer for us for sure. The owner and the board have done a really good job over recent years, so we’re in good shape financially. We’re trying to build up the squad. We’re not limiting ourselves to one position – we’re looking at all areas.”
Teenage Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme was the first arrival from Palmeiras in a deal exceeding £25 million. He was joined by Wes Foderingham on a free transfer. Most recently, Max Kilman completed a £40 million move to West Ham from Wolves. Attention now seems to be on bolstering the attacking line.
Currently, Lopetegui’s centre-forward options include Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio, and Danny Ings—two of whom are over 30 and did not impress in the Premier League last season.
Several forwards have been linked to a move to London. An enquiry has been made for Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi has also been offered to the Hammers. A bid is thought to be imminent for former Tottenham Hotspur forward Steven Bergwijn, now at Ajax. However, a concrete offer has been made for a striker with previous experience playing in London.
### West Ham Make Alexander Sorloth Bid
According to Caught Offside, West Ham have submitted an initial offer of around £25 million for Villarreal striker Alexander Sorloth. The Norway international has a €38 million (£32 million) release clause in his Villarreal contract and has also garnered interest from AS Roma. The Italian club is concerned that Sorloth could be swayed by West Ham, who plan to meet with his agents this week.
The 28-year-old, who scored just once in 20 appearances for Crystal Palace, has enjoyed prolific spells at Trabzonspor, Real Sociedad, and now Villarreal in recent years. Last season, Sorloth netted 23 La Liga goals and provided six assists in 34 appearances across all competitions. Journalist Josh Bunting has praised Sorloth’s form since leaving the Premier League as “remarkable.”
A return to England might be imminent, with Sorloth potentially joining Guilherme and Bowen in a revamped attack under Lopetegui.
