West Ham transfer target Ismael Doukoure is “likely to join Chelsea”, according to ExWHUEmployee.
The 21-year-old’s club, Strasbourg, are owned by Blueco, who are also the parent company of the Hammers’ London rivals and, speaking on the West Ham Patreon (quotes via their website), Ex said that the centre-back won’t be making the switch to the London Stadium:
“Doukoure offers an interesting option but it appears that he’s likely to join Chelsea who have a partnership with his current club Strasbourg and appear keen to bring the player over.”
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Graham Potter’s side are also interested in Doukoure’s teammates Emmanuel Emegha, Habib Diarra and Mamadou Sarr, but Ex claims the links to Chelsea make any transfers involving Strasbourg unlikely.
Alternatives to Doukoure have been identified
It looks as if Monaco’s Soungoutou Magassa is the player that will be targeted instead, but he is ostensibly a holding midfielder rather than a centre-half.
All of his starts came in midfield last season, although he does have some experience playing in the middle of defence, having started 15 games there at the beginning of 2023/24 campaign.
Have West Ham considered other centre-backs?
Three Chelsea players were linked with a switch to the Irons last month, all of whom can play the position. Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi were mentioned as possible options.
Somewhat strangely, though, the two players that the Blues offered in exchange for Mohammed Kudus were reportedly Robert Sanchez and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
It would be interesting to see what happens if Enzo Maresca’s side return to the table and include someone like Chalobah in their next offer.
The 26-year-old did play regularly in the second half of last season after returning from a loan spell at Crystal Palace but there are suggestions that his club are still willing to offload him.
In other news, West Ham have been rated as the favourites to sign a former Arsenal player