West Ham take on Moyes is for striker say ESPN
Everton have reportedly entered negotiations with Villarreal in a bid to sign striker Thierno Barry. The 22-year-old frontman is also attracting interest from Crystal Palace.
However, ESPN now claims that West Ham could be set to rival the Toffees by launching a £34 million bid, with Everton still weighing up whether to activate the forward’s release clause.
Most Read on West Ham News
Personally, I’m taking this one with a pinch of salt—mainly because West Ham and Everton always seem to be chasing the same targets.
That said, yesterday’s revelation from Knees up Mother Brown that the Hammers’ board are prepared to use their own money in this transfer window changes the picture somewhat.
Barry joined Villarreal from Basel just last summer in an £11.5 million deal and has impressed during his debut La Liga season with 11 goals and four assists in 35 appearances. He also featured for France at the UEFA Euro Under-21 Championships, coming off the bench during their semi-final defeat to Germany.
The striker certainly fits the mould of an up-and-coming talent, and it’s believed that Kyle Macaulay, West Ham’s head of recruitment, has solid knowledge of the Swiss league—where Barry initially made his name.
Whatever the reality and outcome of this particular link, I’d expect to see plenty more of David Moyes and Everton chasing the same players as West Ham before the end of the window.