West Ham United chiefs have opened discussions with a striker’s agent, amid news that he could leave for millions less than his release clause.
West Ham already planning for life without Evan Ferguson
The Hammers backed new manager Graham Potter by signing Brighton striker Evan Ferguson on a six-month loan deal in the January transfer window, but it is reported that they’re already planning for life without the Irishman.
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Graham Potter dealt Evan Ferguson blow as West Ham explore £25m replacement
An update has surfaced on the Irishman.
A permanent deal for Ferguson is unlikely to materialise at West Ham, with this campaign looking like his sole Premier League season in Claret and Blue as co-chair David Sullivan begins identifying replacements for 2025/2026.
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West Ham’s next five Premier League fixtures |
Date |
|---|---|
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Arsenal (away) |
February 22nd |
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Leicester City (home) |
February 27th |
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Newcastle United (home) |
March 10th |
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Everton (away) |
March 15th |
|
Wolves (away) |
April 1st |
West Ham have earmarked Man United striker Rasmus Hojlund as a potential arrival for next term, according to TEAMtalk, while other media sources have reported that AC Milan loanee Tammy Abraham is on Potter’s radar as well.
Signing a new centre-forward permanently is an absolute must for West Ham this summer, considering Niclas Füllkrug has proved unreliable when it comes to injuries, with Michail Antonio also sidelined after his horrific car crash.
Danny Ings is also out of contract this summer, meaning Potter is in serious danger of being left very short for his full debut campaign in the dugout.
A potential target who West Ham fans will be very familiar with is Corinthians striker Yuri Alberto. The Brazilian has been repeatedly linked with a move to east London in the past, and Corinthians president Duilio Monteiro Alves even confirmed that he rejected an offer from West Ham last year in a sit-down interview with UOL.
However, members of the South American press have since reported that Alberto will be allowed to leave Corinthians in July.
West Ham contract Yuri Alberto’s camp amid potential £62 million discount
According to Calciomercato, the Hammers are still very much interested in him, alongside Inter Milan, Atalanta, Bologna, Bournemouth, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Betis, Porto and Wolves.
There is a growing clamour for the 23-year-old’s services, with West Ham approaching Alberto’s agent recently over a potential summer transfer.
It is stated that Corinthians could sell their star striker for an initial £21 million, which is a £62 million mark down from the player’s £83 million release clause. That being said, Corinthians chiefs are hoping that an auction can be sparked for his signature, as 50 per cent of his transfer fee is due to Zenit St. Petersburg.
Alberto’s record suggests why so many clubs are keen on him, with the one-cap Brazil international scoring 31 goals in 57 outings across 2024.
“A striker who, even with a lot of criticism, played very well, was Yuri Alberto,” said Brazil legend Ronaldo.
“He grew at the time that Corinthians needed it most and helped the team with many goals, being one of the team’s top scorers in competitions.”
