West Ham's agreed striker deal is set to fall through

West Ham look set to miss out on Enyimba striker Ezekiel Bassey this summer after his club will refuse to allow him to attend pre-agreed trials with the Hammers.

All Nigeria Soccer are claiming that the 19-year-old forward was ready to fly to England this summer to take part in pre-season trials with the East London club ahead of a proposed move, but it’s now unlikely they will take place.

Bassey requested he be allowed to leave over the summer to train with the Hammers, but Enyimba have denied that request, stating that the young attacker must stay and take part in their CAF Champions League campaign which is ongoing.

In January, Bassey spoke with All Nigeria Soccer about his invitation to train with West Ham, but admitted that he would not leave in the January transfer window because of the limited time he had at his disposal.

It is true I have an invitation letter from West Ham to attend trials but I don’t know for now if I will travel. Tomorrow is the deadline for the transfer window, so I’m not joining a foreign club in this window.

Having delayed his possible move until the summer, the Nigerian U20 international had been hoping that his dream move would become a reality before Enyimba stepped in his way.

He did reveal in the same interview that he would not leave the NPFL champions for another Nigerian team, leaving it open to suggestion that the only possible move would be to Europe.

I am a player of Enyimba, I can’t leave them for any club in Nigeria.

The 19-year-old is believed to be one of the more promising young talents in African football, but understandably, none of us have really seen or heard much about him.