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Arsenal respond as West Ham make approach to sign Ethan Nwaneri
West Ham have now made an approach to sign a very highly-rated Arsenal player, with the Gunners also responding to their January interest.
The Hammers finally ended their 10-game winless run on Saturday with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over QPR in the FA Cup third round, though the win required extra time and did little to ease concerns about their Premier League survival.
January signing Taty Castellanos scored his first goal for the club with a powerful header in the 98th minute after Crysencio Summerville had opened the scoring late in the first half.
Nuno Espírito Santo showed visible relief at full-time following what could easily have become another embarrassing cup exit. West Ham struggled for 32 minutes before registering their first shot, and Richard Kone’s 65th-minute leveller exposed their defensive fragility once more.
The win offers scant comfort with Saturday’s London derby against Tottenham looming large. West Ham sit 18th in the table, seven points from safety, having failed to secure a single Premier League victory since early November.
Recent defeats to Wolves and Nottingham Forest have left the east London club in serious danger of the drop, and Nuno faces a crucial test against Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where his side lost 3-0 earlier this season.
West Ham now in negotiations to sign “special” £22m player for Nuno
He’s been tipped for a very bright future.
Thomas Frank’s men are struggling themselves, but West Ham have been abysmal away from home this campaign and desperately need reinforcements.
Intrigue surrounds reports linking the Hammers with former Tottenham defender Eric Dier. The 31-year-old has reportedly been offered to West Ham by AS Monaco, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, with Nuno keen to reunite with his former Spurs player.
Dier is reportedly viewed as bringing much-needed leadership qualities that have been sorely lacking in the squad.
The Englishman is under contract until 2028 and only recently returned from injury after missing three months. The move remains at an early stage with nothing advanced, but represents an intriguing option given Nuno and Dier’s rumoured positive working relationship in north London.
Despite West Ham’s interest in Dier and glaring need for a centre-back, it is also believed that they’re eyeing up more attacking options.
West Ham get response after approach for Arsenal sensation Ethan Nwaneri
According to The West Ham Way today, the Irons hold an interest in young Arsenal forward Ethan Nwaneri.
The insider outlet, which gets exclusive reports from ExWHUemployee, also claims that West Ham have made an approach to sign Nwaneri on loan amid his lack of game time at the Emirates.
However, Nuno has been left disappointed, with their approach knocked back as Nwaneri decides to battle for a place in Mikel Arteta’s side.
“It is thought that West Ham have had an approach to Arsenal’s talented midfielder Ethan Nwaneri turned down,” read the Patreon post. “A number of clubs were said to be keen on the Arsenal youngster but he has chosen to stay and fight for his place at the club rather than try a loan it seems.
“West Ham are expected to target other domestic loans but it seems that another potential target in Aston Villa’s Donyell Malen looks likely to move to Italian side Roma instead on a loan move. “Other options are currently being explored and the club hope that Brighton will recall Igor Julio to free up one of two domestic loans that you are allowed to have.
“We will hopefully have a more positive update for you soon.”
The 18-year-old is one of Arsenal’s youngest ever Premier League appearance-makers and is yet another standout prodigy to come through their Hale End academy.
Called a ‘special and phenomenal talent’ by Sky pundit Stephen Warnock, Nwaneri already boasts 10 goals and two assists in just over 51 senior outings for Arsenal despite his young age.
However, West Ham will have no luck here, and must now turn to alternatives.
West Ham open to selling £150k-a-week star this month against Nuno’s wishes
The Hammers are willing to cash-in on a key player.
