Everton swoop to open talks for a target West Ham have chased for over a year as transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano makes ‘concrete’ claim.
West Ham are well aware of the talents of Hugo Ekitike – and so too it seems are Everton.
This time last year West Ham were trying to sign Ekitike – dubbed the ‘new Kylian Mbappe‘ – from Lorient.
But he ended up joining Mbappe at PSG and West Ham moved for Gianluca Scamacca instead.
Neither move has worked out for the strikers and now Everton are looking to deal a blow to West Ham’s reported contingency plans.
Hammers once again linked with striker they tried to sign last year
French publication RMC Sport claimed earlier this month that PSG striker Ekitike is firmly back on the radar of West Ham in the summer transfer window.
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And The Daily Mail reported at the weekend that West Ham’s chances of finally getting the jet-heeled forward have been boosted by the arrival of Goncalo Ramos at PSG.
The report stated the Hammers are battling Forest for Scamacca’s replacment after selling the Italian to Atalanta this week.
But Toffees boss Sean Dyche has other ideas it seems.
Everton open talks to sign West Ham target Hugo Ekitike as Fabrizio Romano makes ‘concrete’ claim
Because Everton have swooped to open talks for West Ham target Ekitike as Fabrizio Romano makes a ‘concrete’ claim.
“Everton have concrete interest in Hugo Ekitike,” Romano said.
“Told negotiation will take place over loan deal with buy option clause that can become mandatory.
“Terms of the deal and numbers not discussed yet, still at early stages with both PSG and player side.”
Dyche has been labelled a long ball merchant in English football.
But it seems he is trying to change that perception at Everton if this move for Ekitike is anything to go by.
The 21-year-old French striker is seriously quick and has also earned comparisons to Thierry Henry in the past.
But the reported Everton and West Ham target struggled in Paris, scoring just four goals in 32 games for PSG in his debut season.
Everton – and West Ham if they remain interested – will be boosted by new reports emerging this afternoon in France that Luis Enrique and Luis Campos have told Ekitike he is not part of PSG’s plans in a face-to-face meeting.
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