---
title: "Alex Crook claims West Ham are interested in Mikel Oyarzabal"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/01/20/west-ham-interested-in-mikel-oyarzabal-transfer-rumours/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2021-01-20T06:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-01-20T06:00:00Z"
---

# Alex Crook claims West Ham are interested in Mikel Oyarzabal

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/01/19/west-ham-gaetan-laborde-offer-rejected-montpellier/) could be about to switch their attention once again in their hunt for a striker as talkSPORT reporter [Alex Crook](https://twitter.com/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](https://talksport.com/radio/schedule/)), Crook claimed Oyarzabal was a ‘new name in the frame’ as [David Moyes](https://readwestham.com/2021/01/19/david-moyes-strong-chance-of-no-new-signings-january-transfers/) tries desperately to land a new striker before the month is out.

Having seen [advances for a host of goal-getters rejected](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/west-ham-transfer-news-gaetan-laborde-offer-rejected-montpellier-b900255.html), 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](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/09/david-moyes-sacked-real-sociedad#:~:text=David%20Moyes%20has%20been%20sacked,zone%20only%20on%20goal%20difference.&text=The%20club's%20president%2C%20Jokin%20Aperribay,he%20had%20spent%20the%20weekend.) between 2014 and 2015. The Hammers boss [oversaw the breakthrough](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mikel-oyarzabal/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/351478/plus/0?saison=2014&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) of the young Spaniard, who has since gone on to produce [incredible numbers](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mikel-oyarzabal/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/351478/plus/0?saison=&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) season after season in La Liga.

This season is no exception, as the [11-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mikel-oyarzabal/nationalmannschaft/spieler/351478/verein_id/3375) Spain international has directly contributed to [11 goals in just 14 league appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mikel-oyarzabal/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/351478/plus/0?saison=2020&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=).

Capable of playing both as a[winger and centrally](https://totalfootballanalysis.com/player-analysis/mikel-oyarzabal-real-sociedad-tactical-analysis-statistics), the 23-year-old Spaniard certainly [ticks plenty of boxes](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/298839/Show/Mikel-Oyarzabal) when building the perfect option to be deployed in the current West Ham side.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

No mention of a fee from the reporter, perhaps wisely as [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/mikel-oyarzabal/marktwertverlauf/spieler/351478) 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](https://breakingthelines.com/rankings/11-mikel-oyarzabal/) 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](https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/sport/david-moyes-admits-west-ham-are-unlikely-to-delve-into-january-transfer-market/) they may need to go down the loan path.