Premier League rivals Newcastle United and West Ham are both interested in signing Club Brugge striker Wesley Moraes but face fierce competition from international sides, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.
The Belgian newspaper claim on their website that the English sides are joined by Welsh counterparts Cardiff City in chasing the 6’3″ (source: Transfermarkt) giant’s signing, the Bluebirds said to have already seen an offer rejected by the Jupiler League outfit.
It is stated that while the Premier League clubs wait in the wings Chinese outfit Guangzhou Evergrande are readying a £22million bid for his capture, although it is stated that Wesley may not be allowed to leave regardless of the offer as the club look to secure Champions League football.
Good move for West Ham or Newcastle?
Kicking off with the Hammers, a new striker is definitely not their priority right now.
They have plenty of options already at the London Stadium and while their quality might be questionable the fact of the matter is they are on the wage bill and taking up a squad slot.
Wesley’s attributes make him a like-for-like replacement for Andy Carroll and so it could be that the English hitman is not set to see his contract renewed ahead of its expiry this summer.
As for Newcastle, they could do with someone to help Salomon Rondon bang in the goals and so it is a much more important hunt for them.
With 10 goals in 27 appearances across all competitions this season, Wesley is hardly prolific and so maybe he is not what the Magpies need when they already have a first choice striker.
This is Futbol rating: West Ham – 4/10, Newcastle – 6/10
Likely to happen?
Not in the slightest with the reported Chinese interest.
Neither Newcastle nor West Ham going to meet the same price that is said to have been offered and as such they can give up any hope of capturing his signing, regardless of what Club Brugge might want to do this month.
This is Futbol rating: 3/10