West Ham United will face competition with a variety of clubs if they are to revisit a move for Morocco’s World Cup hero Youssef En-Nesyri.

That is according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, who has reiterated the Hammers’ long-term interest in the Sevilla striker, for whom they had an offer rejected last summer.

What’s the word?

Amidst the likely increase in demand for En-Nesyri due to his World Cup displays for Walid Regragui’s side, O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT: “He’s been a long-term target for West Ham, they have struggled for goals again this season. Michail Antonio has not been as free scoring while Scamacca is still adapting to the Premier League.

“But for En-Nesyri, I think his performances at the World Cup for Morocco are just going to increase competition for his services, and there’ll be more than just West Ham who might be interested in him.“

According to reports from Spain (via Sport Witness), the Irons made a move for the Moroccan in the summer transfer window, but club owners GSB fell short with a bid of around £34m.

Hit and miss

Whilst En-Nesyri suffered problems with his hamstring just a month or so before the World Cup, he has surprisingly played a concerning amount of minutes for Sevilla in La Liga even when fit.

Another worry is his stark lack of attacking contributions, which seems surprising when you consider his undeniably clinical performances for Morocco in the Qatar World Cup.

In ten La Liga appearances so far this term, the 25-year-old has failed to register a solitary goal or assist, starting just two matches for the Andalusian outfit. However, fielded in five games by Regragui in Qatar, En-Nesyri has two goals to his name in the World Cup.

Ultimately, the striker is hit-and-miss up front. 

Given his record in Spain, he’s the sort of forward who will either deliver a scarcity of returns, or a bucket-load.

Just two seasons ago, the World Cup star scored 18 goals in 38 La Liga appearances for Sevilla, but followed that up with just five goals in the subsequent league campaign. 

Having averaged around four shots per game this season, albeit based on a smaller sample size, the Moroccan is active up top at club level. That would be a plus point for the Premier League’s fourth-lowest scorers in West Ham, who average just 3.9 shots on target per match.

Given the Irons’ current struggles up top, they should perhaps look at recruiting a more creative forward than En-Nesyri, considering their status as the Premier League’s joint-lowest creators of ‘big chances’.