OPINION
West Ham must immediately swoop for Newcastle United forward Aleksandar Mitrovic as the powerhouse’s reported price tag would see him be a steal.
The 23-year-old scored 14 goals in 27 outings during the 2017/2018 season, 12 of those goals while on loan at Fulham, and the forward looks like he is ready to take the Premier League by storm.
Given his age and already intimidating presence the Hammers would benefit from having him in their team, as at the very least he would help Marko Arnautovic out with the burden of scoring the side’s goals.
Mitrovic may have only managed 10 goals in his previous 40 appearances in England’s top-flight for the Magpies but after looking like a completely different player at Craven Cottage in the second half of the campaign, it’s clear he could quickly be a force for Manuel Pellegrini’s side if recruited.
While an attacker with the potential and goal return of Mitrovic would normally set a club back a pretty penny, the Magpies’ valuation of their forward makes him look an absolute bargain.
Rafa Benitez is set to demand in the region of £15million – £20million for his services, as reported by the Chronicle, with that price only increasing due to a bidding war or if he excels at the World Cup .
However if there’s any chance that the Hammers can scoop him up for a price in that region, or even at £20million, they must swiftly swoop to get his signature as it could see him be the signing of the summer.
The same report by the Chronicle lists a host of clubs as being interested, such as Fulham and Wolves, with the Magpies set to resolve the powerhouse’s future after the World Cup.
But if the Hammers were quick to put in a bid now, one in the region of Benitez’s demand, it could see them jump to the head of the queue in the race for his services.
While they may have to wait several weeks for a decision, acting sooner rather than later is in the club’s best interest.
Therefore the Hammers must immediately swoop for Mitrovic as after scoring 14 goals in his most recent season his reported price tag makes him an absolute steal.
