West Ham will step up talks for Youssef En-Nesyri after reigniting their interest in the Sevilla forward as David Moyes looks to strengthen his attacking options in the final week of the window.
The Hammers sold Italian international Gianluca Scamacca to Atalanta earlier this month and are yet to sign a replacement, with PSG’s Hugo Ekitike also of interest.
Moyes is a long-term admirer of En-Nesyri, having failed with a bid for the Moroccan back in January 2021, and fresh negotiations with the LaLiga side are underway.
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The 27-year-old scored 18 goals in all competitions last season and featured heavily in his country’s surprise run to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar. He remains a key player for Sevilla and was on target in last week’s Uefa Super Cup defeat to Manchester City, but the Spanish club are experiencing financial difficulty and are understood to be open to a sale.
Ekitike, meanwhile, is expected to leave PSG this month having been deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Luis Enrique.
West Ham have met with Ekitike’s entourage but face rival interest from Everton, AC Milan, Lyon and Eintracht Frankfurt and are reluctant to meet the French club’s asking price. A loan deal could be considered but the Ligue 1 champions are thought to prefer a permanent sale and Everton are willing to pay £29.8million plus a further £4.3m in add-ons.
Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus, who can play in midfield or on the wing, remains another target, with negotiations ongoing, though the two clubs are currently struggling to agree on a fee and the saga looks set to run late into the window.
Scamacca’s departure has left Moyes with only Michail Antonio, Danny Ings and youngster Divin Mubama as recognised strikers in his squad.
Antonio has been linked with a move away this summer but has led the line in each of the Irons’ first two Premier League games and scored a fine goal in Sunday’s 3-1 over Chelsea. Ings, however, has been ineffective since his January arrival from Aston Villa in what was effectively an emergency signing as the Hammers struggled for goals in their relegation fight, while Mubama is unproven at senior level and Moyes has talked up the possibility of using Jarrod Bowen as a centre-forward this term.
West Ham have also confirmed Greek defender Konstantinos Mavropanos as their third summer signing in a £20m deal with Stuttgart, though the player is currently nursing a minor injury and will not be ready to make his debut when Moyes takes his side to Brighton this weekend.
