West Ham could be about to switch their attention once again in their hunt for a striker as talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook claimed that the Hammers are interested in Real Sociedad forward Mikel Oyarzabal.
Speaking to on the Jim White and Simon Jordan on the station (Tuesday, 12.30pm), Crook claimed Oyarzabal was a ‘new name in the frame’ as David Moyes tries desperately to land a new striker before the month is out.
Having seen advances for a host of goal-getters rejected, the West Ham manager is being pressed into action as the search for an incoming forward widens further.
Crook alluded to the pre-existing relationship between Moyes and Oyarzabal from the manager’s time in Spain between 2014 and 2015. The Hammers boss oversaw the breakthrough of the young Spaniard, who has since gone on to produce incredible numbers season after season in La Liga.
This season is no exception, as the 11-cap Spain international has directly contributed to 11 goals in just 14 league appearances.
Capable of playing both as a winger and centrally, the 23-year-old Spaniard certainly ticks plenty of boxes when building the perfect option to be deployed in the current West Ham side.
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No mention of a fee from the reporter, perhaps wisely as Transfermarkt credit Oyarzabal with a current market value of a staggering £53m.
Although he doesn’t have the physical presence of Michail Antonio, the Spaniard has plenty of other high-class traits which should rapidly endear him to the Irons faithful.
That said, this one is best watched for now as any move for a player of Oyarzabal’s worth almost certainly won’t be happening in January, with Moyes recently admitting they may need to go down the loan path.
