Former Premier League striker Brian Deane has backed West Ham to sign Blackburn Rovers ace Adam Armstrong this summer.
This comes after the widely linked Ivan Toney earned promotion to the top-flight with Brentford – making any move for the 33-goal sensation a difficult one.
The west London side’s play-off success could see the Hammers look elsewhere to resolve their pursuit of a recognised frontman.
Deane, an ex-Iron of 28 outings, told This Is Futbol that David Moyes should shift his focus to another prolific second-tier ace.
You can go into the Championship and get good players. Look at Ivan Toney who’s just come up with Brentford. Certainly, I think you can get value in the Championship. Adam Armstrong, we haven’t had supporters in the grounds and they [Blackburn] need to kind of strengthen their squad. So that [selling the player to West Ham] may be a way of doing it and then getting the next Adam Armstrong.
The 24-year-old finished five goals behind Toney in the league’s scoring charts with 28 strikes from 40 outings – also adding five assists.
Formerly of Newcastle United as a youngster, Rovers manager Tony Mowbray has spoken of the interest in the striker he described as ‘brilliant’ following a hat-trick.
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Signing Armstrong would certainly be a coup for West Ham with newly-promoted Norwich City showing an interest and Newcastle United also keen on making a return a possibility.
Valued at £14.4million (Transfermarkt), a recent report from Lancs Live has claimed the Lancashire club will be looking for a fee in the region of £20million for the man under contract until 2022 at Ewood Park.
Credit to the England youth international, his goal-scoring record has remained impressive throughout his career to date.
Perhaps lacking the other qualities the likes of Michail Antonio brings to the side, Armstrong’s seemingly unerring ability to finish chances is something that would certainly benefit Moyes’ side.
