West Ham are among the clubs circling Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, according to reports.
The England international will be out of contract at the end of the season and TEAMtalk claim that the Hammers are “keeping tabs” on his situation along with Newcastle and AC Milan.
It was Newcastle who begun negotiations to sign Calvert-Lewin during the summer transfer window, only to be told by Everton that they valued him at £40m.
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With the 27-year-old’s contract running down into its final 6 months, the Toffees are now at risk of losing him for nothing.
West Ham need to find a replacement for Antonio
With Michail Antonio having been ruled out for at least a year following his car accident earlier this month, recruiting a new no.9 will be the top priority for technical director Tim Steidten in January.
Finances are believed to be tight, though, so there isn’t much room for manoeuvre. It is, therefore, understandable why a move for Calvert-Lewin would be contemplated considering Everton may be forced into selling him for a knockdown price.
The forward has overcome the injury problems that have befallen him in recent years, but his goals have dried up, with just 2 in 16 appearances so far this season.
Are any other strikers being targeted?
Reports suggest that Steidten has at least six forwards (other than Calvert-Lewin) on his shortlist. Brighton’s Evan Ferguson, Corinthians’ Yuri Alberto, Middlesbrough’s Latte Lath, Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran, Spartak Moscow’s Manfred Ugalde and Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez have all been looked at.
Of course, some are more attainable than others. There is a chance that Ferguson will be available on loan, while Alberto has expressed an interest in moving to the Premier League. In contrast, an approach for Duran seems unlikely, considering his current form for Villa. We shall have to wait and see which one becomes the top target.
Find out who is in West Ham’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here