West Ham are now just one step away from signing rapid giant striker Samu Omorodion according to new reports.
The Hammers could following up the reportedly imminent signing of Luis Guilherme by landing a top young striker.
It seems West Ham are edging ever close to landing teenage attacking sensation Guilherme from Palmeiras.
And now Hammers technical director Tim Steidten could be on the verge of getting a forward for him to feed.
West Ham have been linked with a plethora of strikers in this summer window.
Journalist Jacob Steinberg has claimed Steidten and new head coach Julen Lopetegui are ‘determined to sign a new forward’.
“West Ham have been scouring Europe for a No 9,” Steinberg stated.
West Ham ‘determined’ to sign new striker
It seems the Hammers could be on the verge of getting one.
Because West Ham are now just one step away from signing rapid giant Samu Omorodion.
Hammers News reported that West Ham were interested in young Atletico Madrid forward Omorodion two months ago.
Not only that but the fact Diego Simeone could be forced to sell the 6ft 4in 20-year-old due to “massive financial troubles” reported by Mundo Deportivo.
There was a big development earlier this week when it was claimed Atletico had agreed in principle to sell Omorodion to West Ham.
But negotiations were said to be ongoing over the fee and structure of the deal.
Now it seems a West Ham deal for Omorodion is agonisingly close.
West Ham one step away from signing Omorodion
According to Spanish outlet Mucho Deporte, Lopetegui wants Spanish international forward Omorodion as his number one target above Youssef En-Nesyri.
Now West Ham are just £1 million and a change in deal structure away from getting his man the report claims.
“Julen Lopetegui, West Ham coach, is thinking about En-Nesyri, although he does not have him as his first option,” the report states.
“The English club’s plans are going in other directions. Specifically, the desire is Samu Omorodion (Atletico de Madrid), a giant who this season has played on loan at Alaves.
“Muchodeporte has learned that West Ham would be willing to pay 29 million euros (£24.5m) plus 10 (£8.5m) in variables for the Melilla forward. The offer is not to the liking of Atletico de Madrid, who asks for 40 (£34m) to be able to go after Artem Dovbyk , the sensation of the season in Girona by scoring 25 goals in 41 games.”
The report claims Lopetegui is a big fan of the player – and of having a dominant physical towering presence up front in his teams.
‘Lopetegui confident he can polish raw Omorodion’
And it states West Ham’s new head coach is ‘confident he can polish raw Omorodion’s game at West Ham’.
“The one from Asteasu believes that he can get a lot of performance out of Omorodion,” the report adds.
“The coach’s taste for a tall ‘9’ is well known, who knows how to dominate the aerial game, stop the ball with his back and give play to his teammates, in the style of what De Jong did at Sevilla.
“Samu is very young (20 years old) and has things to polish, but those virtues do accompany him.”
A skilful, pacy but raw forward, Omorodion has been redefining the saying ‘good feet for a big man’ in Spain.
The 6ft 4in star was signed by Atletico from Granada last summer but he was immediately loaned out to Alaves. There he scored nine goals and laid on an assist last season.
Omorodion is exactly the kind of forward-thinking transfer West Ham should be in the market for. So this is very reassuring news.
The Hammers sorely need young, hungry, powerful, quick stars who can excel in the Premier League but won’t necessarily cost the earth. That seems to be what they’re targeting in Guilherme and Omorodion.
One small step from signing a striker with a giant leap. Now that would be cosmic.
You can watch Omorodion in action in the video below.
