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Nigerian striker Henry Onyekuru will be on the move this summer and apparently wants a switch to the Premier League. The KAS Eupen player is one of the top scorers in the Belgian top division, and at only 19 years old, he is going to be in demand.
Top scorer in Belgium Henry Onyekuru in talks with two PL clubs. Lots of interest - Everton, Southampton, West Ham etc. £6.8m release clause
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) May 15, 2017
West Ham United are not the only club interested, with Everton and Southampton both interested in signing him this summer. Scottish champions Celtic FC tried to sign him in January, but Eupen held onto him, but it looks like he will be moving on this summer.
It is refreshing to see the Hammers linked to a young striker, even if the player is from one of Europe’s more unfashionable leagues. And while the Belgian league isn’t full of giants of European football, the Hammers have signed Cheikhou Kouyate from Anderlecht recently and the Jupiler league has supplied players such as Vincent Kompany, Eden Hazard, and Romelu Lukaku to the Premier League. The Hammers wouldn’t have to break the bank to get the deal done, and it’s just the kind of signing that the board at West Ham typically goes for, with an obscure player that gets hype from his agent in the press.
Agent Confirms Everton, West Ham Target Onyekuru Is In Talks With Two EPL Teams https://t.co/2WRGu9tWTI via @owngoalnigeria
— owngoalnigeria (@owngoalnigeria) May 15, 2017
The team will not move forward if the club is constantly searching the bargain bin for dodgy transfers or washed-up stars, but fans should not expect this player to come in and light up the Premier League in his first season. It takes awhile for players to adjust to the Premier League, and even longer for young players to find their way. On the other hand, £6.8 million seems like a bargain when players such as Andre Ayew are purchased for over £20 million.
So while it’s a good sign that the club is looking at a good young players, it would also be concerning if this was the only striker that the board purchases this season. The team needs to move on from Andy Carroll and his groin that is tied together with spare goal netting. So far, Ashley Fletcher has not proven to be an everyday Premier League player, and while names like Dries Mertens or Daniel Sturridge are nice, the club needs a realistic striking target, like Leeds United’s Chris Wood, while investing in youth.