West Ham have made a substantial offer worth an initial £22.5 million for Sevilla forward Youssef En-Nesyri, according to The Athletic.
The Moroccan joined from Sevilla last year after the Europa League holders activated his Leganes release clause worth just under £20m and signed a five-and-a-half-year deal, forming part of the team which won the continental competition last August.
Despite the cost and the years left to run on his contract, the Hammers have been undeterred and have made their move to secure the Europa League winner as a direct replacement for Sebastien Haller.
However, the source notes that the initial proposal from West Ham was rejected. The Athletic understands that the initial offer included a proposed bonuses package worth £4.5m, with the further add-ons designed to structure a deal in an incentivised manner.
Haller, who is West Ham’s club-record signing, was sold to Dutch side Ajax for less than half of the original fee that they paid for him.
En-Nesyri has scored 18 goals in 51 appearances in his year-long spell at Sevilla since joining from then-relegated Leganes. Eight of those goals have come in 17 La Liga appearances this season.
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Standing at 1.89m (6 foot 3), En-Nesyri cuts the figure of a target man striker in a similar manner to Haller and likely suits Moyes’ preferred style of play. Proven at both La Liga and international level, his goal record is fairly impressive.
En-Nesyri appears to be an ideal well-rounded option and, while he won’t come to the London Stadium cheaply, he fits the profile as a prolific alternative to Haller.
