LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 27: A general view inside the stadium as Neal Maupay of Brighton & Hove Albion scores their team's first goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion at London Stadium on December 27, 2020 in London, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui is eager to add to his frontline at the London Stadium ahead of the start of pre-season.
The Hammers have already moved quickly this summer to secure Luis Guilherme, but they have shown no signs of stopping there as they have been linked with a whole host of new attacking options.
One name who has been tipped to make the switch to the London Stadium repeatedly is Sunderland winger Jack Clarke, with the Hammers reportedly leading the race for his signature [Daily Mirror, 9 May page 61].
There are a number of other Premier League sides interested in the Englishman, but it may now be easier for Lopetegui to get his man after Sun journalist Alan Nixon shared an update on Southampton’s interest.
Reporting via his Patreon page on Sunday (30 June) he confirmed that the Saints are backing away from the race for the 23-year-old because Sunderland are looking for a fee of around £18million for his services.
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While the £18million fee may be a bit rich for the Hammers at this stage of the window, it does seem as though the competition for Clarke’s signature is dropping week by week which can only be good news.
Whether or not the Irons still view the Black Cats star as a target at this stage remains to be seen, they are now in a position where they could plot an uncontested swoop for his signature without needing to outbid rivals.
With Said Benrahma’s permanent move to Lyon confirmed and Barcelona making an official offer for Jaden Philogene, the Irons need to move quickly to strengthen their wide options sooner rather than later.
Guilherme is an excellent start, but he cannot be the only addition. Perhaps a summer move for Clarke could now be back on.
