Elye Wahi transfer bombshell: West Ham make £20.9m offer, player wants move. West Ham United have contacted Marseille to sign Elye Wahi this month, according to L’Equipe.
The French newspaper reporter via their website (13 January) that the Irons, who are keen to sign a new striker during the January transfer window, want to move forward with a loan with an “almost obligatory” purchase option worth £20.9million.
Marseille, though, remain cautious after the discussions as they do not want to sell Wahi as such, although he wants to move to the Premier League.
West Ham want to sign Elye Wahi from Marseille
The East London outfit are understandably desperate to sign a new striker after it emerged that Niclas Fullkrug could be sidelined for up to three months due to a hamstring injury.
They have been linked with several centre-forwards in recent days, including Brighton’s Evan Ferguson and Manchester United’s out-of-favour ace Marcus Rashford.
West Ham have also held discussions over signing Taiwo Awoniyi from Nottingham Forest, although the Tricky Trees would need to lower their £20m asking price for a permanent transfer to come to fruition [Jack Rosser]. The Hammers’ interest in Wahi is not new either as they have previously been linked with a move for him.
Wahi joined Marseille from Lens for a deal worth up to £30m last summer but has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter under Robert De Zerbi. At 22 years of age, the France Under-23s international could be West Ham’s number nine for years to come.
In other West Ham news, Graham Potter has dropped a Crysencio Summerville injury update ahead of the game against Fulham on Tuesday, 14 January.