In a new twist in West Ham’s ongoing interest in top target Abdallah Sima, West Ham may not be an attractive prospect in Sima’s mind as first thought.
According to a report from Claret & Hugh, Sima remains open to a Premier League move but the Senegalese striker’s preferred destination would be a Bundesliga club.
The same source has also indicated that any deal between the Hammers and Sima’s current club, Slavia Praha, would command the largest fee yet that has been agreed between the two sides.
Naming the player’s price tag, West Ham will be set back by a formidable £30 million fee.
However, there is a consolation: previous insights from Claret & Hugh had separately indicated that Slavia wanted £40 million, making any final deal slightly more tenable for the West Ham hierarchy.
Slavia President Jaroslav Tvrdík had denied the previous price in a boost for the Hammers.
The source also notes that West Ham were originally quoted £8 million for Vladimir Coufal before settling in the end on a fee of just £5 million.
Given Coufal’s importance to David Moyes in a West Ham shirt, the deal to bring Coufal to London increasingly looks to be one of the shrewdest bargains of the season.
Conversely, Sima will not come so cheaply. With the report claiming that Arsenal and Everton are also keeping tabs on the teenage marksman, a more protracted transfer saga could develop.
Opinion
Sima, in relation to his appearances, is boasting a formidable record both domestically and at a European level.
If West Ham need an incredibly young yet energetic and clinical striker with bountiful potential, Sima increasingly looks cut in the right mold to rectify the lack of competition for Michail Antonio.
As always, it is a case of risk versus reward; Sima will not come cheaply to east London.
