West Ham are interested in signing FSV Mainz attacker Yoshinori Muto, according to BILD.
The German newspaper claim that the Hammers along with Newcastle United are in the hunt to sign the 26-year-old forward who featured for Japan at the World Cup in Russia.
BILD report that Mainz want to sell Muto this summer as his current contract is set to expire in June 2019.
OPINION
Muto’s time at Mainz looks to be at an end based on this report even though the 26-year-old was involved with getting 15 goals for his side in his 2017/18 campaign. The forward scored 10 goals, while assisting five, in his 30 appearances for them across all competitions last season so he will be missed by the Bundesliga side if he is to depart in the near future. Muto may have only played 82 minutes of football for Japan at the World Cup but he is a worthwhile signing for the Hammers to make this summer. Following the injury to Andy Carroll, Manuel Pellegrini could do with recruiting a new forward who would ensure that he had plenty of options to choose from when it came to picking his frontline. Muto may not be the most lethal of finishers that the Hammers could look at but his desire to always work hard for his team suggest he could well in the Premier League. Also as Mainz are apparently eager to get him off their books, it might not take too long to agree a deal for his services.
