While Everton are making headlines with an ambitious push to sign a brilliant young striker hailed as ‘perfect’ for Graham Potter, West Ham are settling for a Toffees cast-off.
One of the big casualties of David Moyes’ ambitious Everton shake-up could soon be arriving at West Ham’s accident and emergency department.
The Hammers and Toffees are looking to sign a new striker as a top priority this summer transfer window.
Moyes threatened to embarrass West Ham by holding talks with a striker David Sullivan and his sons love in the shape of Liam Delap.
Especially when it emerged that Delap liked what he had heard from the former Hammers boss in that sit-down.
Ambitious Everton making West Ham look anything but
Chelsea won the race for Delap in the end, though, with Champions League football key to his decision.
In fact whenever the Irons are linked with a player since Moyes returned to Merseyside, Everton are never too far away.
Moyes generally prefers more experienced players in his team.
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That is one of the reasons West Ham have been left with an ageing squad.
But Graham Potter has made it clear he fully intends to drastically reduce the age of the Premier League’s oldest squad.
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If that’s the case then the club have a funny way of backing the manager to do that.
Because while Everton close on a striker who has been hailed as ‘perfect’ for Potter, West Ham are settling for their cast-off.
That’s the big news emerging out of both clubs this weekend.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Everton’s move for Villarreal’s France Under 21 striker Thierno Barry had stalled.
Hammers News urged West Ham to take advantage by hijacking the Barry deal.
Especially as the 22-year-old was highlighted as being the ideal striker to lead the line in Potter’s system.
Everton close on Potter’s ‘perfect’ striker as West Ham settle for their cast-off
Now, though, the Toffees are upping the ante by negotiating over a compromise between their original £25m offer and his £34m release clause.
That’s according to Times journalist Paul Joyce, who has revealed Moyes plans to bring in a host of players this summer to mark the move to their fantastic new stadium under new ownership.
Barry is currently at the European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia where he is part of the France squad.
As West Ham watch one of the most exciting young striker talents in Europe near a move to link up with their old boss, their ambitions don’t seem aligned with the manager’s publicly stated plans.
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Because as inevitable as death and taxes, West Ham have made contact with Everton to gauge the situation regarding Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s contract as they eye a potential free transfer move for the striker.
That’s according to an exclusive from Football Transfers who claim sources have told them the Hammers are prepared to better Calvert-Lewin’s current £100k per week salary in order to bring him to the London Stadium.
It’s claimed West Ham are ‘confident’ that the chance to lead a new-look attack under Potter, combined with a significant wage offer, could help seal the deal.
Calvert-Lewin has been linked with West Ham in almost every window in the last few years.
Just two months ago it was reported that West Ham have been speaking to Calvert-Lewin about joining on a free transfer this summer.
The ex England striker has reportedly been offered a new deal but is refusing to sign it.
Calvert-Lewin the antithesis of Potter’s recruitment policy
At 28 and injury-prone, the move for Calvert-Lewin will raise eyebrows among Hammers fans.
Potter recently warned West Ham’s owners they all need to be aligned over transfers.
The Hammers boss also made it clear he wants to rebuild the Irons around young stars.
Not only because they bring an enthusiasm and energy most older players don’t, but because they also have resale value.
Quite how Calvert-Lewin fits into that is anyone’s guess.
That being said, if he is being signed to compete for a starting spot with a younger striker or two then perhaps it is not the worst signing.
It will be galling if Calvert-Lewin is being eyed as West Ham’s latest striker signing if Everton are bringing in top young talent.